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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 24, 2007 - 15 beat HEART Health-related news, tips and stories from the YMCA of Oakville m January 24, 2007 200 2007 Goal is $180,000 $180,00 Raised to Date: o $24,000 MARCELLA NESTOR MAILING GRANADOS: A GENTLE KEEPING GUIDE MEMBERS ON TRACK Two words describe Y Wellness team member Marcella Mailing best ­ calm and soothing. And that's not a surprise given that, although Marcella is new to working in a wellness department, she is not new to the Y, or to the concept of wellness. She is trained as a shiatsu therapist, which she practices part-time from her home, and appreciates the Y's `spirit, mind and body' theme. "It's important for the flow of positive energy to keep working in your body, and keeping your body strong and healthy is part of that energy." Marcella moved to Oakville with her young family in 2003. She had been a member at the Central Toronto Y as a single person, and then with her family as well. "I would take the kids to the Y and while they were happy and safe in daycare, I would work out. It gave me that little extra bit of energy that got me through my day. It's so important for a mother to come in and do something for herself." The Mailing family, including Emily, aged 11 and Grace, aged 10, joined the Oakville Y right away. "I knew it would be a great place to be and to get to know people ­ I felt the positive energy here." In 2006, Marcella put in an application to the Y's Wellness Department, not knowing what to expect. Now she is an important member of the team and working on her fitness certifications. She opens the building at 5:30 am, and takes her `lunch' break at 6:30 am to go home and take over from her husband for an hour and get the kids started on their day. Marcella tells the story of one young member who she has watched progress at the Y. "She started coming in because she was overweight and was not able to `play' with her children like she wanted to. The first day, she could not make it around the track more than twice, and had to use a cane. Now she can do four laps and does not need a cane at all." "Coming to the Y and taking care of your own fitness helps not only your body, but your mind. It helps you to sleep better as well. Partner with a friend, and you can help each other to stay motivated." Some words of wisdom from a gentle guide. Thank you, Marcella. vil vil i w www.ymca f c Monday to Friday 5:30 am ­ 10:00 pm Saturday 7:00 am ­ 6:00 pm Sunday 8:00 am ­ 6:00 pm Our Mission The YMCA of Oakville is a charitable association open to all, dedicated to providing life-long opportunities for health enhancement and personal growth. Our Vision The YMCA of Oakville creates opportunities that inspire people to grow, develop and learn through its leadership in building a healthy and caring community. Since the new Y opened in September 2002, Adult Team Leader Nestor Granados has been a mainstay. He teaches fitness classes ­ from Cycle Fit to Circuit Fit to the new Kinesis and Wave ­ and provides personal training for Y members. Nestor's approach is professional and friendly at the same time. He instantly establishes rapport with his clients, then assesses their current situation and their capabilities, and helps them determine their objectives. "Then I can design a program for them with goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and tangible," says Nestor. Nestor's greatest joy comes from helping to ease a client out of his or her comfort zone. "Often they say, `I didn't know I could do that,'" says Nestor. Some members come to Nestor for a tune-up of their exercise routines. "If you're doing the same thing day after day, your body gets used to it," says Nestor, "so it's important to add variety to your workout. Shake it up. If you normally warm up on the treadmill, try the cross trainer instead. If you do your cardio on the bike, try the Wave." Other clients book time with Nestor once or twice a week ­ either individually or in groups of three ­ so he can offer guidance and a dose of motivation. If anyone thinks that Nestor is good at keeping members on track, consider his original career goal: law enforcement. Nestor studied police foundations at Mohawk College and aspired to be an officer with the Peel Regional Police. When he was assigned to work in the force's fitness department, however, he had a change of heart. After stints at several private clubs, Nestor was hired at the Y. "I prefer the atmosphere here," says Nestor, "where the emphasis is on serving members. In fact, I love the Y. The members are great, the staff is amazing." He says he has grown both personally and professionally since joining the Y, with the encouragement of his supervisor Jeanette Heywood. At this time of year, some people are looking to shed weight and get fit. "You have to remember that it didn't take you two months to gain 50 pounds," says Nestor, "so you can't lose it in two months." Some advice: Start slowly. As your body responds to exercise, keep your workout changing. And if you need help getting ­ or staying ­ on track, talk to Nestor! MARCH 9, 12-16 Are your kids looking for something fun to do at March Break? Why not join in on a March Break program gra with the YMCA of Oakville? Go to www.ymcaofoakville. com co or call the Y for details at 905-845-3417 P.A. Day Ski/Snowboard Trip (9-17 years) Friday, March 9 Blue Mountain $95 includes transportation and lift ticket. Adventure Tour (8-13 years) March 12-16 An exciting out-trip every day! $205 Basketball Camp ((8-15 years) March 12-16 Oakville Trafalgar High School $165 Babysitter Training (12+ years) March 12 & 13 or March 14 & 15 St. Paul's United Church $75 410 Rebecca Street Oakville, ON L6K 1K7 Telephone: 905-845-3417 Fax: 905-842-6792 Email: customerservice @oakville.ymca.ca www.ymcaofoakville.com Design by www.gbcom www.gbcom.ca Look for the YMCA of Oakville Summer Camp brochure in the Oakville Beaver on Saturday, February 3, 2007. The YMCA of Oakville offers fun, quality camp experiences for children aged 4 to 17.