Hampshire Regional YMCA heroes
On behalf of our group of eight Livestrong participants, I’d like to thank Jared Ramer and Lynne Zusi of the Hampshire Regional YMCA for their compassionate, playful, and skillful leadership over the past two months as co-leaders of this very special program. Livestrong is a national program that provides cancer survivors with the opportunity to work out together at the Y and try new activities such as water aerobics, dance fitness, yoga, Pilates, Capoeira, weight and cardio training, and studio cycling. We set individual goals for our improved health and fitness and cheered one another on as we attempted to meet those goals.
Over our eight weeks together, we quickly became friends and workout buddies; there’s something about having survived cancer that facilitates easeful understanding. Over the weeks, we shared our stories and aspirations, getting stronger in ways that went far beyond the physical. We laughed a lot, too, over weekly discussion topics and attempts to follow Lynne’s dance moves or Jared’s Brazilian martial arts instruction.
One of my goals was to meet new people and I did: a group of resilient, energetic, up-for-anything types who truly understand what a gift it is to live fully and in the present moment. I am so grateful — and I know that I speak for the others— to Jared, Lynne, Susan (our Livestrong trainee), and everyone at the Y who made space and time for us to explore our whole selves in new and life-changing ways.
Liz Brown
South Deerfield