Member Story Monday - Erica

1 August 2016

Erica shares her Y story in her own words ...

 

I love the Y! When I first became a member of the YMCA two and a half years ago, I had just had my son, Laker, six months previously. I had gained 56 pounds with this pregnancy and was at my heaviest ever. Mind you, I am only 5'3", so at 221 pounds, I had to do something!

I started working out at home but Laker was getting bigger and not napping as much, so he started waking up as I was trying to follow along with Jillian Michaels. A family member told me about the YMCA and how they have "Stay and Play" for the kids while parents can work out for up to two hours. That was music to my ears!

Then I discovered Zumba at the Mt. Trashmore Family YMCA—LOVED IT! Zumba had been around for about 13 years at the time, but I had never tried it. For someone who loves to dance, I thought, "Where has Zumba been all my life?!"

I met a lot of great instructors and participants from Mt. Trashmore to Indian River and the Greenbrier Family YMCA. One day at the Indian River Y, the instructor, Maggie, said to me, "You are so good at this! Have you ever thought about becoming an instructor?" My eyes lit up and I said, "Uhmmm—yes, no, maybe!" Haha! And from then on I never missed a class! I was coming to Zumba four days a week. In Maggie's class, I knew all the moves, so she would tell me to come up front, which made me feel great! And I did take Maggie's advice and have since become a licensed Zumba instructor at a private dance studio.

I still come to the Y to stay in shape with other classes like KettleWorX, BoxMaster and Aqua Track. The YMCA just has so much to offer to better people's lives and I'm so grateful. The Y has really changed my life and my family's life for the better, and for that reason we will always be a part of this awesome community!