The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
HELLO, HEALTH SEEKERS
There’s no age limits on fitness at West End YMCA in Willoughby
By 2030 every baby boomer will be at least 65 years old, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
That same year, it’s estimated that 34 percent of Lake County’s population will be over the age of 60. It’s expected that population will outnumber residents 20 years and younger. Lake County West End YMCA Senior Healthy Living Director Margaret Warner said the Y is aware of these trends and is trying to be accommodating.
“Our niche will always be family, but we’re not putting our heads in the sand at this population growing so much,” she said.
Warner said she doesn’t like the term “senior” (the senior in her title refers to responsibility, not the population she works with). They’re just adults, she said.
“We’re just welcoming people in where they are and helping them get healthier, stay healthy.”
— Lake County West End YMCA Senior Healthy Living Director Margaret Warner
“We’re just welcoming people in where they are and helping them get healthier, stay healthy,” Warner said. Warner said they’re blessed to have pools at the West End Y. They offer classes like Arthritic Water. There’s a huge population that takes that class, she said. It’s designed for people with arthritis who need to move, “but don’t need that pounding on their joints.”
On “land,” as Warner referred to it, the Y offers things like free weights, exercise equipment and cardio equipment.
“We have specific cardio equipment that is designed for people that have hip and knees replacements,” she said, adding that equipment is highly used.
The West End YMCA moved into its new location at 36909 Ridge Road in Willoughby in mid-September. Virtually all of the equipment in its new home also is new.
People can schedule appointments with wellness coaches to learn how to use the equipment. “When we went looking for equipment it’s not just a treadmill anymore or an elliptical, there’s technology involved,” she said. “They all have technology and people want to learn about that technology too.”
There’s a general learning curve with the new equipment, she said, but people don’t just have to sign up for an appointment to learn more about how to use them. Wellness coaches are staffed at the Y from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“If you’re walking around looking a little nervous, someone will ask you if you need help,” she said.
She added that they do encourage people to schedule an appointment, however.
“The term the Y uses, and I believe other people do, is health seekers,” Warner said. “They’re people that want to get fit, they’ve done a lot of things, they see a lot of things, but you walk up the stairs and ‘oh my goodness, what in the heck is all this stuff?’
“We try to start people very slow with maybe a piece of cardio and maybe one or two other pieces of equipment so they’re not overwhelmed,” she said.
Part of the design of the upstairs wellness center took that into consideration, she said. In an early design for the building, the free weight area was the first thing people would see when they walked up the stairs.
“Think about that as a health seeker or someone who’s not familiar, I would turn around and walk right back downstairs,” Warner said. “We had that discussion. It’s an important part of the Y, but it doesn’t need to be right when you come up the stairs.”
Warner said the Y offers classes on everything from strength training to yoga to zumba.
“All those things are open to anybody,” she said. “Our instructors work to provide progressions and regressions. So if someone comes to class and I might teach something that has a bunch of 30-year-olds in it, but there might be two or three 60- to 70-year-olds in it, then we’re going to show that they can do it too.
“Because this population is interested in staying fit and doing things. We encourage them to try things, other classes that are not marked Silver Sneakers.”
One of the benefits of class is the chance for socialization, Warner said. She likened it to the “Cheers” theme song. “People know your name,” she said. “People know when you’re not there. It matters to people. So there’s a great social connection and community made here at the Y.”
Members of some classes meet outside the Y to get things like dinner together.
“They have come to Y not knowing anyone. They leave with a lot of friendships.”
Warner said their goal is to strengthen community.
“Our big job is to help everyone learn, grow and thrive, however that is for them.”