Chasing away the winter blues
By Katie Lauder and Anna Smith
We all live in New England for a reason but, regardless of the reason, winter can be tough. Seasonal depression is a real thing, and a decline in physical activity is also common over the winter months.
There are hundreds of products and cures on the market to help the winter blues, but what about looking in your own town for a solution. The Granby Road Race is at the perfect time of year to stimulate motivation and happier thoughts. The race this year is on May 4. Just reading those words provokes thoughts of warmth, color, and light!
The Granby Road Race plays many roles in Granby, but one role is often overlooked—its ability to encourage physical activity through the winter months. Getting outside for exercise is not as easy in January as it is in June, but the YMCA offers an indoor location for physical activity.
Another aspect of the Granby Road Race is its ability to bring the community along for the ride (well, run) even if that looks different than registering and participating in the race. The race pulls volunteers from multiple area businesses, is always looking for more, and coordinates with local sponsors, celebrities, and restaurants to make the race run as smoothly as possible. This chit chat about a warm and bright future reminds us that the cold, dark winter months will come to an end. They always do.
How will the Granby Road Race help pull YOU through the rest of winter? Register to run and start training? Volunteer and start coordinating with others? Donate? Find what motivates you and channel it into support for the community—100 percent of race proceeds go toward helping underprivileged families access the YMCA to better their health.
Register today, ghymca.org/granbyroadrace
No one fights this battle alone
By Brian Liss
On March 23, at 7, 8, and 9 a.m., the Farmington Valley YMCA will host its signature fundraiser—the LiveSTRONG at the YMCA program. This Bike for the Battle program is a three-hour spin-a-thon to raise the funds necessary to make LiveSTRONG possible.
Cancer survivors know the tremendous toll the disease and its treatment can take on your spirit, mind and body. You want to begin to heal and reclaim your health, but where do you start? LiveSTRONG® at the YMCA can help. In 2008, the YMCA partnered with LiveSTRONG® to help cancer survivors begin the journey toward recovery with the program.
As part of the Y’s commitment to strengthening community through healthy living, the program offers adults affected by cancer a safe, supportive environment to participate in physical and social activities focused on strengthening the whole person—not the disease.
The free, 12-week program meets twice a week for 90 minutes, using traditional exercise methods to ease a person back into fitness and help maintain a healthy weight. Participants focus on building muscle mass and strength, increasing flexibility and endurance, improving confidence and self-esteem. Plus, they learn about wellness, stress reduction techniques and how to continue healthy habits after the program has ended. Just as important, it encourages a warm spirit of community as a comfortable place to build companionship with others affected by cancer and share stories and inspiration.
People don’t all experience cancer in the same way. Participants come to the program with different physical challenges and lifestyle goals. LiveSTRONG® at the YMCA provides individualized attention and an approach to recovery that targets the areas needed to rebuild. There’s no competition; physical activities are tailored to match abilities. This program is offered without cost to participants and includes a free three-month YMCA family membership. The YMCA provides trained instructors, the facility and equipment.
Medical studies have shown that moderate levels of appropriate physical activity can reduce fatigue, boost self-esteem and improve muscle strength and physical endurance in individuals following cancer treatment. Cancer survivors themselves are increasingly aware of the positive impact that moderate physical activity and supportive relationships can have on their quality of life. LiveSTRONG® at the YMCA has helped thousands of cancer survivors move beyond cancer in spirit, mind, and body.
All of this is made possible with community support through fundraisers such as the Bike for the Battle on March 23. Call the YMCA at 860-653-5524 to register for Bike for the Battle or to learn more about how to enroll in LiveSTRONG.