YMCA Offering Programs and Classes at the Euclid Senior Center
Euclid, Ohio - In May, the Euclid Family YMCA moved its Active Older Adult programming to the Euclid Senior Center. The programs were moved successfully thanks to support and cooperation from the City of Euclid staff members Mac Stephens, recreation director and Bob Payne, Manager of the Euclid Senior Center. Active older adult programming was moved to the senior center after the YMCA made a difficult decision to close the Euclid Family YMCA facility, located at 631 Babbitt Road facility in May 2018.
“We are now serving more older adults than we had at our previous location on Babbitt Road,” says Tim Hilk, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland. “The new location now includes seniors who are members of the Euclid Senior Center but were not members of the YMCA.”
YMCA member, Lina LeFloria had hip surgery in 2016. Despite physical therapy she was not able to get back to her normal activities. To help her recover, she joined the Y, started taking SilverSneakers® classes and saw big improvements. When the Y announced the move Ms. LeFloria was disappointed. “At first I was not interested in moving to the Euclid Senior Center for the classes,” she says. June Taylor, YMCA staff member, encouraged her to give the new location a try. Lina attended the classes at the Senior Center and said, “I’m very glad that I stayed with the Y. The YMCA staff pull you in and instructor Mike Yunis makes exercising fun.”
The Y offers eleven different classes, geared for older adults, Monday through Friday at the Euclid Senior Center. They give participants an opportunity to stay physically active or in some cases, to overcome their fear of exercise and increase their physical activity. The programs accommodate a wide variety of interests and functional abilities of older adults including SilverSneakers® exercise classes, yoga, Zumba and line dancing. SilverSneakers® is a free fitness program for seniors on Medicare supplemental insurance programs. Participants must enroll as a member of the Euclid Senior Center to participate in the Y programs.
Guests are welcome to attend their first class for free. Anyone interested in more information, can attend a class at 10 am Monday through Friday. Please arrive 15 minutes before the class to sign in and get oriented.
About the YMCA
At the YMCA our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. We are the premier community-based, charitable organization that embraces collaborations to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. At the Y, we stand for Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.
Larry Griffin
Larry Griffin is the Interim Executive Director for the Euclid YMCA. He has served in the role since mid November 2017. Although, the Y building closed in May of this year, the YMCA volunteers and staff are still working hard to provide programs in community spaces. Thank you for the opportunity to get the message out to Euclid residents.