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Here Is What You Can Expect
No additional charges. The program is included with
the annual YMCA membership.
- No fitness assessments. Your readiness for the program is
determined more by your ability to commit to the program.
- A separate exercise area for program members. This reduces
feelings of embarrassment or intimidation about yours or other's
fitness levels.
- Trained YMCA staff. All staff has undergone extensive training
to understand and implement the program effectively.
- A flexible start time. You can start the program when you
are ready. No waiting for class starting dates.
The Program Includes:
- A 12-week program.
This length provides enough time to become accustomed to cardiovascular
and strength training. This is also long enough to see and feel
physical and psychological benefits of regular exercise.
- A personal one-to-one approach. You are assigned a personal
fitness counselor who meets with you for 4 one hour appointments
(weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12). During this time, you will learn to
identify barriers to change and develop strategies to overcome
them. Your counselor will also provide personal attention and
guidance throughout the 12 weeks.
- A structured, step-by-step behavior change program.
- The 12 weeks will be divided into 3 phases of activity:
- cardiovascular training,
- strength training part I
- strength training part II
- Your fitness counselor will determine how you will progress
through each stage.
- An intrinsic oriented mindset. Emphasizing how exercise helps
you think and feel about yourself is essential to maintaining
it over a long period of time even in the face of powerful barriers.
Differences Between Personal
Fitness & Personal Training
The fitness counselor is not a personal trainer. The fitness counselor's
primary role is to help members develop a physically active lifestyle.
They do not workout with each of their assigned members every
time the member works out, as a personal trainer does. A fitness
counselor provides a more generic, yet structure, workout plan.
The primary goal of a fitness counselor is to help change their
client's behavior through empowerment.
Comments From A Program Participant:
"The personal fitness program is the best thing I have ever
done for myself. I hadn't exercised in years and was intimated
by the equipment, training room and people working out. Through
the starter program I have become confident in my training, made
new friends and have accomplished something that will help me
for the rest of my life."
-Debbie Plane, Member
Ralph J. Stolle Countryside YMCA
Lebanon, Ohio
The Good News About Exercise:
- Physical activity is good for you. It reduces stress, anxiety,
and depression. It increases energy and makes weight control
easier.
- People who are usually inactive can improve their health and
well-being by becoming even moderately active on a regular basis.
- Physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health
benefits.
- Greater health benefits can be achieved by increasing the
amount of physical activity.
From the 1996 Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity
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