Feeling the benefits of exercise

YMCA patrons find strength, community during workouts

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Jenny Wood was on a healthy workout schedule. She walked almost daily and occasionally hit the gym.

“But in the last several years, I had orthopedic issues,” said Wood, 63, a retired pediatrician who lives in Denver. “It seemed I was chronically doing rehab and physical therapy.”

Wood has had several surgeries since 2019, including two hip replacements and for injuries caused by breaking a kneecap and a wrist.

She realized she needed to become stronger. Almost-daily walks and occasional visits to the gym weren’t going to be enough anymore.

So she began working out at the University Hills-Schlessman YMCA at 3901 E. Yale Ave. in Denver, and found Amy Ventura, a senior manager for community well-being who’s also been a personal trainer for three years.

“I went to Amy at my husband’s suggestion because he had started (working with) her,” Wood said. “He found Amy to be encouraging and she has a nice way of progressing through di erent exercises that didn’t get really boring.”

Ventura put together a tness program for Wood, who soon felt the bene ts: She was stronger, more energetic and just happier overall. It also helped that Wood felt support, and returned it to more and more YMCA members, fostering a sense of community.

Ventura has seen this dynamic numerous times: Frequent workouts helped members make acquaintances and gain encouragement.

“You can witness a change in people, often from the start of a session to the end of it. People often report they feel better, or their mood feels better, from when they started a session,” said Ventura, 43. “My colleagues also report that when you work with someone over time, you often see them build con dence, and they’re proud of doing what they’re doing, proud of what they’re accomplishing.”

She notes that science is also involved.

“When we move our bodies, we release chemicals such as sero- tonin and endorphins that help improve our mood and ward o depression,” Ventura said.

Disease prevention is another bene t.

“We have clients who have prevented cardiovascular disease,” Ventura said. “We have patients who are preventing (other) chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, through exercise.” e sense of community also helps because “some people want to be to be active with their grandchildren and children,” Ventura said. e YMCA has many tness programs, such as a free personal wellness plan, access to tness equipment, tness classes, yoga classes, tness workshops, yoga, TRX, Women on Weights, Pilates and more. ere’s also the Power Your Potential program, which is a 12week group training experience for people who want the social support to stay motivated and accountable in attaining their tness goals.

Wood and her husband, Vern Berry, are training for a bicycle tour along the Danube River between Germany and Austria.

All the sweat and pushing of weights, and seeing familiar faces on each visit, help build a community mood. People returning to their gyms now following the pandemic has also contributed to the community factor.

“I certainly have better respect for my body and what it can do,” Wood said. “I’ve de nitely gotten stronger and I see the improvements that I need to see in my body.”

“On a smaller scale, I see myself as part of Jenny’s community, part of her support network. I think we all need to take care of ourselves in the best way possible,” Ventura said. And “it does seem that people are consciously making the connection (of exercise and solving depression) more.”

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