'Exercise Anxiety'? How the Family YMCA Can Help

The Westport Weston Family YMCA is launching a new program that aims to connect members who share the same health and wellness goals, interests and passions.

Called Member 2 Member, this free initiative is for anyone looking for fellowship in:

• Attending a group fitness class
• Swimming laps
• Lifting weights
• Outdoor exercise
• Motivational help
• Pre or Post workout socialization
• Carpooling to the YMCA
• Any other reason to enjoy the YMCA!

If you would like to join the Family YMCA’s Member 2 Member program, simply complete the one-page registration form and return it to a Member Engagement Staff at the Welcome Center. You can also email the completed pdf directly to Brian Marazzi, Membership Engagement Director, at bmarazzi@westporty.org.

“We’re always looking for ways to help our members get the most out of belonging to our YMCA,” Marazzi says. “Everybody knows that staying motivated is key to achieving fitness goals, but what’s not often talked about is the anxiety a lot of people face in even taking the first steps toward a healthier lifestyle.”

For some, those first steps are the biggest hurdle of all. Marazzi describes reading an industry report that found a significant percentage of people who are considering joining a fitness center actually sit in their car for a half-hour or more before entering the facility.

“Just walking into a facility this large and new can be intimidating, and we know that many new members face ‘exercise anxiety’ as they visit our Wellness Center for the first time or try to get the nerve up to take their first Zumba class,” Marazzi adds.

That’s where Member 2 Member comes into play. The one-page form asks basic questions like what aspect of the YMCA you’re interested in using (swimming laps, taking a group fitness class, etc.) and your preference, if any, in the age and sex of your fellow Y member. We’ll then do our best to match you with a member with similar interests.

“Even if you don’t work out together, just touching base or, say, carpooling to the Y can be a good thing,” says Marazzi.

Marazzi was inspired to launch the program after following up with a local resident who the YMCA had granted free membership through our long-standing collaboration with Westport’s Department of Human Services. The man, who was recovering from recent surgery, had checked into the Y only sparingly since joining. Marazzi emailed the member to ask if there was anything he or another YMCA staffer could do to help get him to become more active. He received this reply:

“Thanks for checking in. I appreciate the follow up and I think it deserves an honest response: I thought that getting into the pool frequently would provide me with a great physical outlet, but I find I have been having some anxiety when in the pool.

“This is all very new for me and I need to figure out a way to overcome it so I can utilize this great resource; especially one that has been given to me. I have managed to get to the weights a few times, but not nearly enough…. I have a friend who is also a member and we plan on meeting there more often pending his schedule. Thanks again for the opportunity and caring enough to check up on me…”

If you can relate to this story in any way, do know that we’re here to help you get the most out of being part of the Family YMCA. We invite you to take part in our new (and free) Member 2 Member program and find fellowship with a new Y friend. And do feel free to contact Brian Marazzi directly.

The Family YMCA also has a staff of expert Personal Trainers who can help you get started on a fitness program that’s right for you, and stay on it. What’s more, we offer Small-Group Training. Designed for 4 people or more, the program combines the knowledge and “push” you get from a Personal Trainer with the energy you feel from working with a group, plus you save money by joining in with friends or family.

To get started with a YMCA Personal Trainer, either one-on-one or with a small group, stop by the Wellness Desk or contact Wellness Director Alexei Bachuretz at 203-571-6035 or abachuretz@westporty.org.