When I was growing up in the sixties the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was not known as a fitness place. It was known as a refuge for young men homeless, or just needing a cheap place to stay for the night. “The Y” was like a budget hotel for young men only, sort of like a hostel today.

So how did the Y become the go-to workout destination?

The YMCA First Opened Gyms to Train Stronger Christians

Today, YMCA-run gyms span the United States, serving millions of people. You might wonder why a faith-based organization would be running gyms at all, but ”The Y,” as it has re-branded itself, got its start in the workout biz thanks to a late-nineteenth century philosophy known as “muscular Christianity.”

–Smithsonian Magazine

The Victorian idea of Christianity suggested that men had to be strong in order to fight for and physically represent the dominance of their religion and its ideals. This was true in England, where the first-ever YMCA opened in 1844, as well as in America. In Boston…[in]1851, the first American YMCA opened, offering “a safe gathering place, opportunities for socializing, bible-study classes and prayer meetings,” according to its official history. It quickly moved to a larger premises that included a reading room, a gym and classes and lectures.”

–Smithsonian Magazine

The wildly popular “Y-M-C-A” dance craze, as innovated by the mega-selling disco group Village People*, involves the dancers moving their arms to form the letters Y-M-C-A as they are sung in the chorus:

Y – Arms outstretched and raised
M – Made by bending the elbows from the “Y” pose so the fingertips meet over the chest
C – Arms extended to the left, forming a “C”
A – Hands held together above head, forming a triangle

It has been widely reported that Dick Clark’s popular American Bandstand show was where the YMCA dance originated. During the January 6, 1979 episode which featured the Village People as the guests, the dance is seen being done by audience members during the performance of “YMCA” and lead singer Victor Willis is seen practicing the dance himself at the beginning of the interview sequence.

The Village People appear on American Bandstand, where the crowd does the soon-to-be famous arm movements spelling out “Y.M.C.A.” Host Dick Clark makes sure they learn those moves, and they do. —Songfacts.com

For a number of years, at New York Yankees baseball games at Yankee Stadium, after the fifth inning the grounds crew traditionally took a break from grooming the infield to lead the crowd in the Y-M-C-A dance. I understand that practice has been replaced with a Rick Astley song, “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

To learn more about the Y.M.C.A. go here.

*The Village People were an instant phenomenon with hits like San Francisco/In Hollywood, Macho Man, YMCA, In the Navy, Go West and more. The Village People sent The Disco Era into full bloom.

The Village People have sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

YMCA Lyrics
(Words and Music by Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo and Victor Willis)

Young man, there’s no need to feel down
I said young man, pick yourself off the ground
I said young man, ’cause you’re in a new town
There’s no need to be unhappy

Young man, there’s a place you can go
I said young man, when you’re short on your dough
You can stay there, and I’m sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time

It’s fun to stay at the YMCA (repeat)
They have everything for young men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys

Young man, are you listening to me
I said young man, what do you want to be
I said young man, you can make real your dreams
But you’ve got to know that one thing

No man does it all by himself
I said young man, put your pride on the shelf
And just go there, to the YMCA
I’m sure they can help you today

Chorus

Young man, I was once in your shoes
I said, I was down and out with the blues
I felt no man cared if I was alive
I felt the whole world was so jive

That’s when someone came up to me
And said young man, take a walk up the street
There’s a place there called the YMCA
They can start you back on your way

It’s fun to stay at the YMCA (repeat)
You can get yourself clean
You can have a good meal
You can do whatever you feel

See How Baseball Destroyed Disco.