EXERCISE FOR ALL

The Exercise for All Program provides individualized and small group Personal Training to members of the special needs community. The goal of this program is to overcome the impediments to exercise for members of the special needs community so that they can experience the physical, emotional and mental health benefits that accrue from participating in an appropriately designed exercise program.

Program Overview Classes History Events Rates Photos

Program Overview

The Exercise for All Program (Ex4All) has been created in response to the increased demand for physical activity support for participants with disabilities in our community. Personal Trainers have been supporting one another in their efforts to offer training to those who present unique needs. As this demand has increased trainers have come together to determine the best way to meet the need.

Exercise for All has been in existence since February 2012 at the Greendale Family Branch YMCA. This program provides individualized and small group Personal Training to members of the special needs community. The goal of this program is to overcome the impediments to exercise for members of the special needs community so that they can experience the physical, emotional and mental health benefits that accrue from participating in an appropriately designed exercise program.

Program Goals

Improve range of motion & motor skills
Build muscular strength & endurance
Provide opportunities to engage with others while building relationships
Improve overall health & well being

Our program has made a difference in many facets of our participant’s lives.

Including personal achievements such as:

learning how to swim,
running a desired distance
losing weight with increased muscle tone
improved aerobic capacity and flexibility

Nutritional focus and consultation is another important part of our Exercise For All Program.

We develop a love of fitness, healthy lifestyle, strengthened family & friendships; keeping our love of life strong.

Contact

Linda Keohane
Group Exercise Lead, Exercise For All Coordinator
Greendale Family Branch YMCA
(Email) [email protected]
(Phone) 508-852-6694 (ext. 2227)

Classes

SPLASH Swim Program: This program services participants who have a diagnosis of autism or any family with diverse abilities. Classes offer a smaller student-to-instructor ratio. Class will focus on safety and basic swim skills. Beginner (6-12 Years) Parents must be in the water for support until the instructor and parent are comfortable with the independence of the participant. Class will focus on safety and basic swim skills. Please contact our aquatics department at [email protected] for day and times per each session and any other additional information.

Water Safety/Therapy & Swim Strokes: Conducted in the Alden pool. A warm, 4 foot deep therapy pool, individuals receive private instruction by a certified personal trainer experienced in aquatic training. Participation is provided for individuals from 3 years of age through adulthood. Instruction in the Woodbury lap pool is also available for the more advanced swimmers. Pool sessions are typically a half hour in duration. Cost for Ex4All Water (private swim) is done now on a monthly basis. Our monthly billing option details are found HERE.

To request swim lessons, please fill out our form HERE.

For more information, or for specific inquires: please email [email protected]

Personal Training; Individualized or Small group: Conducted in the Wellness Center for persons at least 13 years of age or in the Family Gym for those under the age of 13 years. A certified personal trainer leads the participant or a pair of participants through an individualized workout regime utilizing the vast assortment of aerobic and strength training equipment found in our gyms. Training sessions run either 30 or 60 minutes. Cost for Ex4All Land (Personal Training) is now done on a monthly basis. Our monthly billing option details can be found HERE.

Gentle Yoga Class: Our Inclusive Yoga Class occurs on Tuesdays at 4:30-5:30pm. Any individual and ability is encouraged to come participate. You will feel the benefit of this class throughout the rest of your week. This class is free and open to the public for those with diverse abilities.

Teen Exercise Group Class: Exercise with others in different ways each week. Held in fitness locations throughout our YMCA, this class will expose youth to various types of fitness. Our HIIT Deck area is one of their favorite locations. 4-8 students with one or two trainers allows for personal instruction needed with learning the many types of exercise offered. Classes are offered during the afternoons if there is enough interested to participate. Day and time TBA

History

Exercise 4 All began at our Greendale Family Branch YMCA in response to the increased demand for physical activity support by members with disabilities in their branch. The program now partners with the Seven Hills Foundation, a Worcester-based social services provider, and the Worcester Public Schools, and has served more than 100 people. Participants do not need to belong to the YMCA. Personal Trainers began supporting one another in their efforts to offer training to those who present unique needs. Exercise for a person with a disability involves a whole different set of challenges in addition to those common to the general YMCA population.

“Exercise 4 All is a rewarding experience and I’ve seen both the trainer and the client gain a lot from participating in this program. I love going to work because of the mutual rewards and joy we share”, said Karin Anderson, Director of Healthy Living and YMCA Certified Personal Trainer.

This program is intended to remove barriers and make available to the participating clients with special needs the mental, emotional and physical health benefits that accrue from the participation in a regular and appropriate exercise program. These individualized exercise programs are developed and implemented by certified Personal Trainers on-staff at the Greendale Family Branch YMCA using land and water modalities. Trainers adapted a work out strategy implementing the research of Dr. Igor Burdenko. His method works from deep water, moving into shallow water, then to land. The water environment eliminated 90% of the body’s weight, making it easier to move. This exercise technique focuses on balance, coordination and flexibility and then progresses its focus to endurance, speed and strength.

Events

All social events are on hold due to COVID-19. Programs may resume in Spring 2022. We will update this page once we have confirmed information regarding these events.

Our participants enjoy socially active events occurring monthly such as our Dance Party, & Karaoke Nights. We offer Movie Nights, Zumba, Yoga & access to Nutritional fairs as other new options in our program. Please contact Karin Anderson if interested.

We offer these monthly events listed below.

Karaoke Night: Held the first Thursday of each month from 6-8 pm at the Boroughs Family Branch YMCA, 4 Valente Drive, Westborough, MA. FREE admission and open to the public. Pizza and soda provided for a small donation. Come join us for singing and laughter.

Dance Party: Held the third Monday of the month from 7:30-8:30 pm at the Greendale Family Branch YMCA, 75 Shore Drive, Worcester. Learn from a professional dance instructor teaching the latest dance steps or just come and freestyle. FREE admission and open to the public.

**ALL EVENTS ARE FREE**

Rates

Membership – We offer Individual Adult, Young Adult, Youth, and Family memberships based on income through Y Access, our income based pricing model.

Membership is encouraged but not required.

Any specials that the Y offers through the year for this programming can be utilized by Ex4All participants. Y Access scholarship rates are available for all membership options.

The Ex4All program is just one way the Greendale Family Branch YMCA shows its dedication to healthy living for everyone in the community.

A required change in Ex4All is the membership option and cost for the programming. All individuals participating through registration will have access to the following benefits:

Program Fee – Ex4All Membership Free with Registration up to 100 participants

Sessions run 10 weeks offered 4 times per year.

Learn more about YMCA of Central MA Membership here.

Learn more about the Greendale Family Branch here.

Training Rates:

View Rates HERE

Please contact Linda Keohane for application paperwork and any questions you may have regarding these new offerings and changes at:

Linda Keohane
Group Exercise Lead, Exercise For All Coordinator
Greendale Family Branch YMCA
(Email) [email protected]
(Phone) 508-852-6694 (ext. 2227)

Photos

Teen girls playing outside at a fountain park

Group of teens playing outside at a fountain park

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