Health Management
Health goals are achieved every day at the YMCA.
Often our health and wellness are not our top priority. That’s why the YMCA of Three Rivers offers a variety of health and wellness programs to help you learn, move, and connect for better health. At the Y, we believe that better health means a better life.
Whether you’re experiencing a chronic condition and need support, are looking to change your lifestyle to include healthy habits, or want to meet new friends, we’ve got programs to help you start putting your health and well-being first.
Dementia Lifestyle Intervention Program
Dementia Lifestyle Intervention for Getting Healthy Together (DELIGHT) is an 8-week lifestyle intervention program designed to support people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, and their care partners. Each session includes:
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Group exercise and educational discussions on wellness topics
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Opportunity for socialization
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Healthy snacks provided each week
Spring 2024
Location: A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA
Cost: Free for YMCA members & non-members
Dates: April 22 – June 17, 2024 (no class May 20)
Mondays & Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Assessments will be completed before & after the 8-week program
To register, please contact Marsha Phillips 519-743-5201 x 2113 or by email.
DELIGHT is offered in partnership with:
Diabetes Fit
Change your life one step at a time.
Are you struggling to get started with healthy habits like exercise? Have you been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or have risk factors that put you at high risk of developing diabetes? Join diabetes fit to change your life, one step at a time.
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Build your movement confidence-participate in guided exercise, at the right pace for you with support from qualified exercise professionals. Learn the steps to safe and effective exercise.
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Increase your nutrition knowledge-learn about building healthy eating habits through registered dietitians.
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Expand your support system-work with caring YMCA wellness coaches and connect with others working towards similar health goals.
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Get active — move more throughout your day in a way that makes you feel better and improves your health.
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Diabetes fit is an evidence based 12-week program with one 90-minute session per week. FREE for YMCA members and non-members. Virtual and in-person programs are available.
Cost: Free for members and non-members.
For more information on upcoming programs, please contact us by email or by phone at 519-743-5201 x 2113
Comments from our graduates
“Good information, in-class practice, and group support. Doing this class over 12 weeks really helped me experience a consistent weekly commitment to exercise and apply what I learned. I highly recommend this to anyone struggling with preidiabetes or diabetes”
“The biggest take away for me was that I don’t have to get everything right immediately to better my health. Each small step I take in the right direction is a win! I learned to make small achievable goals that increase my activity, better my eating habits and increase my strength. I am much more conscious of my activity level each day. I am slowly increasing how much I am moving and feeling stronger because of it”
“I highly recommend the Diabetes Fit program. I have never been a person who would feel comfortable joining a gym but this program introduced me to exercise in a non-threatening and supportive way.”
"I felt very alone in my journey to wellness before, but knowing I could ask questions in my group really helped me to feel calmer about my pre-diabetes diagnosis and gave me lots of inspiration on setting goals to help improve my health."
“Over the course of twelve weeks, I went from ‘overwhelmed’ to feeling ‘in control’ of my health
issues, and am much more physically fit, better informed, and organized around healthy living.”
“I loved the program! It provided me with resources and tools to support my wellness journey and gave me the confidence to continue. The virtual format worked well with my day.”
Program Partners
Diabetes Fit is supported by Sun Life
Neuro Fit
Smart start to exercise for those living with stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury
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Improve your mood, energy levels and mobility through exercise
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Start at a pace that is appropriate for you with support from qualified staff
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Exercise options are available for those using a cane, walker, or wheelchair
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Virtual and In-Person services are available
The first step to join Neuro Fit is completing a free consultation. Medical approval may be required before starting the program. A YMCA membership is required to participate. Please visit our Membership Pricing and Fee Assistance page for further information.
Press the title of each program below for more information.
Comments from our graduates
"It's a helpful program. Working on strength and stamina are very useful in real life."
"The program is awesome. It is very beneficial. I like how it is geared to my needs. It is nice that the room is for other people with challenges. I like that we get to be with other people. learn from others, talk with others. It is a wonderful program with qualified staff. The program has opened me up and connected me with all these other community programs. We're learning so much about my disease and what I should do. It is amazing to see results."
“This program has improved my life considerably. Twice a week I have a place to go, a place where I feel safe to exercise, friends to talk to and instructors I can ask for advice from.”
“I am able to walk better and to get off the floor now. The staff and participants care about everyone. The YMCA is my extended family.”
Neuro Fit is designated as a Heart Wise exercise program.
Rock Steady Boxing
Fighting back against Parkinson's disease
We are learning every day that there are ways in which people with Parkinson's disease can enhance their quality of life and even build strength, flexibility and speed. By exercising with coaches who know the ropes, you can fight your way out of the corner and start to feel and function better.
Why boxing? Boxers condition for optimal agility, speed, muscular endurance, accuracy, balance, hand-eye coordination, footwork, and overall strength to defend against and overcome opponents. At Rock Steady, a non-contact boxing inspired program, the opponent is Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's causes a loss in many of the same elements that boxers condition to improve. In addition to being an intense, diverse form of training, boxing is also an incredible stress reliever, confidence booster and fun!
There are two class levels: white and red. Our white class is designed for boxers that need additional support and/or seated exercise for safety. A friend or family member attends class with boxers as their 'corner person'. A corner person is required for boxers in the white class level.
The first step to join Rock Steady Boxing is completing a free assessment with a Rock Steady coach to determine appropriate class level before starting program. Medical approval is also required to participate.
There are two ways to participate in our Rock Steady program: in person at the A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA (Kitchener) and/or online through our virtual classes. Access to a device and internet for video conferencing is required to participate in virtual classes.
For additional information or to book a free assessment email Crystal or by phone at 519-743-5201 x 2106
Cost: Rock Steady Boxing is included in a YMCA classic membership with Health Management value add. Membership assistance is available. For further details on membership assistance, please visit: www.feeassist.ca
Rock Steady Boxing at the A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA is an affiliate program of Rock Steady Boxing.
Minds In Motion®
Minds in Motion® is a community-based social program that incorporates low-impact physical activity and mental stimulation for people with early to mid-stage signs dementia and their care partners.
This program has no cost to attend, and is 100% funded through the generosity of donors.
Chaplin Family YMCA (Cambridge)
Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Stork Family YMCA (Waterloo)
Wednesday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
For more information or to register, contact the Alzheimer’s Society by phone (519-742-1422 ex 2090) or email.
Heart Wise and the YMCA
Our health management programs follow Heart Wise exercise guidelines developed by the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. A program or class at our YMCA that is designated and approved as heart wise will have the heart wise exercise logo. Heart wise exercise classes meet the following criteria:
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Encourages regular, daily aerobic exercise
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Encourages and incorporates warm up, cool down and self-monitoring with all exercise sessions
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Allows participants to exercise at a safe level and offers options to modify intensity
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Includes participants with chronic health conditions – physician approval may be required
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Offers health screening for all participants
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Has a documented emergency plan that is known to all exercise leaders, including the requirement of current CPR certification, phone access to local paramedic services and presence of a defibrillator.
Approved heart wise program classes cover different types of exercise with different levels of intensity.
Please visit Ottawa Heart Institute for further information:
Community Health & Wellness Workshops
Supporting your health and wellness at home.
Please note that all workshops will be hosted on Zoom. Time will be included at the end of each workshop for questions and answers. Workshops are free for YMCA members and non-members. You must register for each workshop through the member portal. Registration links for each workshop are included in the descriptions below.
Can't attend the date of the workshop? Register and you will receive the recording of the workshop to review at a time that works for you.
Cost: Free for members and non-members.
Locations: Virtual
There are no scheduled workshops at this time. Check back for information on our next workshop series.