On any given morning, you’re bound to see friends Toni and Francine together in the William-Emslie Family YMCA pool. For the two of them, the water has been an integral part of both of their health and wellness journeys.
“When I first started coming to the YMCA, my doctor told me I needed surgery on my shoulder,” says Toni. “But after getting in the pool every morning, I never needed to get the surgery because I got my range of motion back.”
Francine has a similar story. She’s had two hip surgeries followed by back surgery. “I had hip surgery in April 2017 and I was back in the pool by May,” she says. “My doctors were amazed that I had all this work done and able to move so well, and it’s because I got into the water. It doesn’t have to be anything strenuous. All you have to do is move and you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel.”
Besides swimming, Toni and Francine also enjoy taking part in the Y’s group fitness classes, exercising in the Wellness Center, and relaxing in the sauna. “I would tell other people in similar situations that if they want to get loose and feel good about themselves, come to the Y,” says Francine. “Aside from the Y being affordable, it has a lot of great amenities. Not many places have a pool that you can use 12 months out of the year.”
Both Toni and Francine say they’re thankful for the Y and all the people they’ve met along the way.” The Y is like a family to me,” says Francine. “This is my Y family.”