YMCA locations across Canada have launched a new tool to help shake off the self-isolation blues.
YThrive is an online program that puts Y instructors in front of those looking for at-home work-outs.
CEO and President of the Saint John YMCA Shilo Boucher says during the COVID-19 outbreak, Canadians need active programming more than ever.
“Our job as a charity is to help build healthy communities,” Boucher said. “(We have to) try and find ways to connect with the community through this crisis.”
With YMCA gyms closed across the country, the decision was made to make YThrive free to all Canadians, regardless of membership with the gym.
“It was actually a program we had been developing and getting ready to launch internally, and obviously out of need and innovation we decided we’d bring it right into people’s homes,” Boucher said.
Instructors from YMCAs across Canada will upload videos to help Canadians stay active during this period of recommended self-quarantine.
Boucher says Saint John Y members may even recognize a few of the faces in the videos.
“We have our local instructors leading some of the online classes,” she said. “It’s really phenomenal to see the Ys working together, and to see it happen so quickly.”
The hope with the YThrive program is the videos can be used by anyone looking to stay active from home, so very little equipment is needed to join the majority of the video. Boucher says an exercise mat is the only thing residents should need to participate in most of the videos.
After self-isolation and social distancing measures are relaxed, the Y plans to continue to run the YThrive virtual program.
For now, Boucher hopes people take advantage of the videos in order to keep minds and bodies active through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a priority – people need to take care of their health, and stay active,” she said.
New videos will be posted to the YThrive website daily.
