Category: Blog

Meet Alex Shiftlett

Posted on by Susan Lechner

THE Y. SO MUCH MORE.

Meet Alex Shiflett.

Imagine playing in the park with your 1½ year old son. It’s a warm, sunny day and you notice a beautiful, friendly Labrador retriever running toward you. Suddenly your toddler “freaks out” and begins to frantically scratch and grab you, needing to be picked up and held. As you hold him, he keeps a wary eye on the dog.

This happened to Christina Callari when she was in the park with her son, Alex, and it sent up red flag – something wasn’t right. Christina had Alex evaluated at the Barber Center where he was diagnosed with Autism and ID (Intellectual Disability).

As a single mom, Christina needed special care for her son. He attended the Barber Center from the age of 2-5 years. Once Alex was school-age, he participated in the Autistic Support program at Emerson-Gridley from K-4 and is now in the program at Harding Elementary where he is in 5th grade.

Alex has received wonderful support and guidance from the in-school programs. The problems arose for Christina when she took Alex to before and after school care. “He was a mess. He never wanted to go.” Not knowing what to do, Christina rearranged her schedule for a year so Alex didn’t have to feel so unhappy.

The change came this past summer when Alex was enrolled in the summer camp at the Downtown Y and subsequently in the before and after school programs at the Y. Alex is now happy and thriving at the Y. Everyone loves Alex. Alex is happy, his mom, Christina, is thrilled. Alex has found his “happy place” with tremendous support and acceptance from the staff and other children at the Downtown YMCA.

Why Working Out With Your Friends is the Best

Posted on by Tammy Roche

A good pal can boost your exercise success

Everything’s more fun with friends—and that definitely includes exercising. Not only is it more enjoyable, but there’s proof a workout partner can make your exercise more effective. One study found that an exercise buddy can boost cardio results. Another found that women could lose a third more weight by exercising with a friend than by themselves. And when you pair up with a friend you think is better at working out than you, you can increase your “workout time and intensity” by 200%.

Go for a total win-win

A little friendly competition can certainly encourage you to push harder. But you don’t need loads of research to know that working out with a friend is basically a two-for-one deal. You get some quality hangout time while also staying on top of your health goals.

Save the date

To maximize your fun and fitness, set a regular day and time for your “workout dates.” This helps you plan ahead and gives you built-in accountability and encouragement to make sure you stick to your goals. It’s harder to skip a workout when you know someone else is depending on you to show up!

Pick the perfect activity

You can stick to a workout you know, or try something entirely new to both of you. There are so many options to choose from:

  • Take a class at your local YMCA. There are plenty of great choices, from dance, yoga, and Pilates to Kettlebells, kickboxing, spinning, and more.
  • Play some one-on-one. Enjoy activities that require a partner, like basketball, racquetball, or volleyball.
  • Walk and talk. Whether it’s a spin around the neighborhood or the walking track, catching up on life, or your favorite TV show, really makes those laps fly by.
  • Be the coach. A partner can help spot you during weightlifting or count your reps so you can focus on your form.

Whatever activities you choose, your workout pal may be one of the most important factors in successfully reaching your exercise goals. Even more, a good friend can make working out a more important and enjoyable part of your life.