In the News

Here's an old article written by one of my clients for the Gloucester Daily Times:

Camaraderie is the key to fitness.

Among the many great things at the YMCA are the friendships that get formed over fitness. I, for one, am a class hopper. My latest endeavor is the 12 week, 3 days a week, 6AM class led by Erin Grady and Danny Vadala. The early hour and increasing difficulty make it a "bootcamp" like environment. In the spirit of the class – there are many of us who have signed up together to encourage the early morning attendance – commuting pals, if you like. So, we are also being environmentally conscious!
Just in our little universe, the class is changing lives and habits of its attendees. My exercise pals are both neighbors, who face daily challenges of working full time and managing their households, children, etc. but leave it all behind to join me at 5:45 AM. The class includes several Y Board members, its Executive Director, and a collection of committed people (or soon to be committed) that could never imagine themselves in this type of routine – but for the peer pressure and passion of the instructors who take no prisoners! Rumor has it that those who miss classes even call for private lessons not to be left behind. On our off days – my exercise buddies join me for an early morning walk – to keep up the pace, so to speak.
From the time we meet at until 7:15AM –we enter either Erin's world or Danny's world at the Y. Erin kicks off with weigh-ins. Measurements, and fat analysis followed by stretching, muscle work, and anaerobic workouts in the gym. Sounds tempting? There's more! Danny pushes us to the edge on Wednesdays with imaginative drills including lugging sandbags around the Middle Street block in the dark hours of the morning. Have you seen a bunch of nuts running around the outside of the Y? That's us.
And guess what? Everyone can do it. None of us are fitness junkies. But, by pushing each other along and adding some humor, creativity, and friendship to the program, we may have found the formula for getting into shape without thinking about it. See you at 6AM!