The Village People recently revealed that they wrote their 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A” in Vancouver, and after getting a private tour of the renovated downtown location, we think they should release a reprise singing its new praises. Herewith, ten reason to play at the new YMCA:

1. While the space retained its cool historical exterior, there’s nothing dated about the open, light-filled interior of windows and glass.

2. You don’t have to be a member to enjoy the Licious café (which also offers nutritional counseling and food delivery) and quiet meditation room on the ground floor.

3. Five different change rooms, including one just for families, with card-access lockers large enough to fit your moped helmet and a machine to ring all the water out of your bathing suit in 10 seconds.

4. Its Membership Plus service, which offers separate adult-only change rooms with towel service, Aveda products, lounge with internet and TV, and private sauna and hot tub.

5. The 25-yard pool with a movable floor that is UV filtered (no green hair!) and kept warm using reclaimed heat from the building.

6. Fitness classes like yoga, spin, personal training and even stroller-baby boot camp for moms and tots to take together.

7. Two rooftop playgrounds for the wee ones with a view of the 1910 church building next door that the kids have already dubbed “Hogwarts.”  With licensed daycare and child-minding services, your muggle can play there while you work or workout.

8. An outfitted, open concept kitchen and meeting area upstairs that will offer cooking classes by Vancouver chefs or can be rented out for that family reunion you don’t have room for.

9. Full gymnasium, racquetball/squash courts and 70 cardio and strengthening machines.

10. The fact that one very affordable monthly fee (from $43) gets you access.

Robert Lee YMCA (opens Monday, May 3, 2010), 955 Burrard St., Vancouver, 604-689-9622, www.vanymca.org/centres/robertlee

Before we were big girls we stole beauty products from our older sisters, but as adults we’re borrowing something from the adolescent set.

The Clean Start line of skin care by Dermalogica was made for teens, with their propensity for problem skin, which makes it perfect for summer. Our tried and tested faves are Ready, Set, Scrub!, a three-in-one purifying clay and cooling menthol mask plus silica scrub, All Over Clear, a refreshing spray toner, and Welcome Matte SPF15, a lightweight oil-controlling moisturizer.

It won’t make you look 15 again, but that’s a good thing.

At Kiss and Makeup in West Vancouver, www.kissandmakeupstore.com
At Spruce Body Lab in Yaletown, www.sprucebodylab.com

To our chagrin, walking a mile in ballerina shoes won’t get you the lean, strong bod of one.

But getting us closer to the barre they’ve set is the Dailey Method. Developed by San Franciscan Jill Dailey, it combines ballet, Pilates and yoga to lengthen, strengthen and tone the whole body (in other words, we worked muscles we never knew we had).

Certified instructors and sisters Karen and Jey Wyder are set to open a private studio in Vancouver soon, but until then you can join in on their regular sessions at the Centre for Peace or try a complimentary class at Lululemon locations this month.

For class info visit the Forum, call 604-290-3238 or email vancouver@thedaileymethod.com.

www.thedaileymethod.com

Not one to get stuck in a rut, you like to mix it up. How about mixing up your own moisturizer?

Because L’Occitane’s new Ma Créme Nature is preservative-free, you make a batch from scratch. Combine the ingredients (natural plant oils and olive tree extracts) together with water and stow it in the fridge for six weeks. The beauty equivalent of a palate cleanser, it helps your skin make a smoother transition between seasons, so use it now as we exit winter.

It’s like science lab meets home ec.

$46 at L’Occitane, 3051 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-734-4441, ca.loccitane.com

Sade’s sexy voice is what we really want, but we’ll settle for her super smooth hairdo.

Helping us emulate her frizz-free style circa 1984 is Calm Down grooming butter by Vancouver’s Eli Manuel. Rub the smallest amount of the lightweight cream—which happens to smell like scrumptious vanilla—into your palm, and then run your hands over your hair, finishing with a pat down of those flyaways closest to your part.

A license to love (your locks), insurance to hold (those hairs in place).

$26 at Tao Salon, 1523 W. Eigth Ave., Vancouver, 604-732-7889, www.taosalon.com

You still remember the way your skin tingled when you spent seven minutes in the closet with the cutest boy in your class.

Now subtract the boy, add an extra minute and you’ve got Glow ‘n’ Go, Skoah’s free mini-facial. During the games, pop in between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., or when you spot a sign in the window, and you’ll be complimentarily cleansed, toned, masked and moisturized in about eight minutes.

Glowing skin, we see thee rise.

Skoah, 1011 Hamilton St., Vancouver, 604-642-0200, www.skoah.com

We may be plucky, but when it comes to eyebrows, we leave it to the professionals.

The new Bombay Brow Bar in Yaletown combines the traditional Indian hair removal method we love with a hefty dose of Bollywood beauty (which we also adore). Decked out in deep purples and gold, the lush space’s décor accents are a mix of blingy baubles (including bracelets you can buy) and standouts like the ceramic white elephant from the owners’ parents home.

After seeing a fair number of ladies leaving with perfectly manicured arches, we let our threading expert decide on our new brow shape and were thrilled with the results.

Time to trade in those tweezers for a standing appointment.

Brow services $23, 1056 Mainland St., Vancouver, 604-683-BROW, www.bombaybrowbar.com

We took an scent census around the office and came up with six lovely pairs of perfumes for him and her. Herewith, our staff picks.

Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor, English edition
Couples who spray together, stay together. When we’re not stealing spritzs of our man’s woody Grey Vetivert by Tom Ford ($100), he’s dipping into our bottle of Private Blend Italian Cypress (from $210). Both at Holt Renfrew.

Tara Parker Tait, Publisher
Opposites attract with Parisian cult favourite Annick Goutal's Petite  Chérie (finally, she divulges her secret scent!) for her ($110 at the Bay) and the luxe Hermès Poivre Samarcande ($250 at Hermès) for him.

Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor
For a date night, spritz  Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb ($120 at Holt Renfrew), a bouquet of sweet, fruity florals. If the boy shows up smelling of John Varvatos’ Artisan ($70 at Sephora), this relationship may have serious potentional.

Malwina Gudowska, Calgary editor
French girl meets American boy: YSL’s Parisienne ($65) is a match with the masculine John Varvatos Classic ($78). Both at Sephora.

Tonya Albulet, Western Sales Manager
Lalique's Amethyst ($110), with top notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, comes in a bold purple bottle worthy of your nightstand. If your BF wears Lacoste Pour Homme Grey ($75), it's meant to be. Both at Holt Renfrew.

Elsa Vecchi, Montreal editor, French edition
A spritz for you, a dab for him. A summery scent that is fresh and classic, Vétiver by Guerlain is made for a man, but also smells lovely on a lady. $95 at Holt Renfrew.

Land down under, lady business, love box—whatever cutesy name you have for it, it requires some tender loving care. Enter I Love My Muff.

The Vancouver company has created a four-step system for keeping your secret garden smelling fragrant. The wash, spray, lotion and on-the-go individual wipes that make up their maintenance kits ($38) are all natural, hypoallergenic and paraben-free. There’s two aromatic blends to choose from—a “blue” fusion of lavender, clary sage and patchouli or “green” mix of vanilla, grapefruit and ylang ylang—and both smell good to enough to, um, eat.

Now that you’re so fresh and so clean, you can rule out dubbing it “the dirty south.”

At www.ilovemymuff.com

With beauty products it’s what’s inside the package that counts, but it can’t hurt if the outside is its own work of art.

As a tribute to Canada’s female athletes, Lancome called upon Vancouver-bred, New York-based photographer Raphael Mazzucco (the man behind more than a few Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers) and his make-up artist spouse Lisa-Marie to design limited edition boxes for its Gold Fascination collection. Both former athletes themselves, in soccer and figure skating respectively, the two used the products to create the ethereal mini masterpieces that adorn the collection.

Get your gloves on the golden Color Design Quad ($48) and gold-flecked L’Absolu Rouge lipstick ($35) and you’ve got the tools to paint your own winning look.

At the Bay, www.thebay.com