Margy and Jeff's Y Story

Margy started at the YMCA through Zumba. She then taught for five years, getting her teaching certificate in 2015 and her CPR certificate later.  

“I was going to be teaching two hours a week,” she said. “Then, my friend broke her arm so I took over her class." 

The friend had been teaching Zumba and some other classes which made her week full. Margy said she wanted to cut back, which is why she got a couple of friends to become instructors up at the Woodland YMCA. 

“I did a lot of cardio training because that’s what the active older adults wanted up there," she said.  

Through a series of events, she became more involved in teaching. Her husband, Jeff, got involved when Margy broke a bone in her knee and he drove her to the YMCA until she was able to drive again. During this time, Jeff started attending class as well. Eventually, Jeff joined a class and realized that other men also attended these classes. He continues to show up to class and now plays cribbage with the other class attendees.  

Once Covid hit and shut things down, Margy’s certifications lapsed and she had to decide what to do about that. She tried having class limited times during the shutdown, but it wasn’t very enjoyable to her due in large part to being unable to see people. 

“I think that what’s so great about these classes, is that you meet people who you probably would never have met before," she said. “They're your gym friends, basically."

Although Margy no longer teaches, both she and Jeff continue to take classes and hang out with their friends that they met in class. 

“That’s kind of my Y story. That’s how we got involved," she said.