Healthy CommunitiesY StoriesYMCA Health and Fitness

Why Malti Chose the Y

27 March 2016 - by Nicole Meredith
People don’t come to the YMCA just to work out. Malti initially saw us as a childcare provider, then came to love our group fitness classes, and eventually took part in Megathon!
“Several years ago, when my kids were really little, I moved to Canada from the UK. Maternity leave was much shorter then, so I went back to full-time work pretty fast. That wasn’t easy, and I found myself really tired all the time. I decided we needed to find a daycare centre ASAP, so I started checking out a bunch of facilities around our house. The Y seemed like our best option by far: they had great teachers, a friendly atmosphere, and even swimming programs for babies.”

Once the kids were all set up at the Y, Malti and her husband realized they could use the running track and the gym equipment - which they quickly fell in love with!

“Soon, I discovered the group fitness classes. I started slow, just taking BodyFit once per week.”

Today, it's a different story altogether. Malti’s kids don’t need daycare anymore, but she’s still at the Y all the time, doing AquaFit, BodyFit, MuscleFit, Yoga, CycleFit, and TRX classes.
“They’re such a fun way to get moving - they make me excited to do a workout! It’s also a huge help to have such fun, welcoming instructors: they take a personal interest in you, and are always available if you need extra guidance.

I have Nazia to thank in particular. She pushed me to always strive for my personal best. Thanks to her inspiration, I lost over 20 pounds in just a year! Nazia also taught me the importance of leading a balanced lifestyle. Now, I’m able to focus on my family while also making time for myself, and it’s made a huge difference in my energy levels."

Through her classes at the Y, Malti says she's become so motivated that her husband’s been totally inspired. He’s taken to pushing himself as well, and will even join her in CycleFit classes. “I’m so proud of him!”
So, the Y has helped me improve in so many areas of my life: they were my childcare support when I needed it, they helped me fall in love with fitness, they helped me learn how to relax and live a balanced lifestyle, and they gave me the confidence to make me feel like I can tackle anything in life. That’s why I participate in Megathon: it’s an honour to be able to give something back to this community that’s given so much to me.”

The Y means something special to every one of our members. Start carving out your spot in our community by trying a new class, joining a sports team or rec league, registering for Megathon, or bringing the kids for a dip in the pool. Or, if you’re already a member of the YMCA family, tell us about your experience using the hashtag #YStory on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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