NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The YMCA of Greater New York announced today the launch of "Y Personal Fitness" a 12-week, personalized exercise program geared for anyone interested in making a lasting lifestyle change by incorporating physical activity into their normal routine. The program was designed to help people overcome the obstacles they have faced in the past like lack of time, lack of support and motivation, feeling uncomfortable in an exercise environment, and confusion as to where and how to begin.
Starting with a one-on-one appointment with a Y Personal Fitness Coach, the program creates a customized, structured routine based on a commitment to exercising three days a week at the YMCA on his or her own schedule. Through three additional one-on-one coaching sessions over the course of 12 weeks, the member will review and update his or her program, add new exercises gradually, leading to greater success in achieving his or her health improvement goals. Members will also benefit from a supportive environment with personal encouragement and support to help keep them on track.
"We all have certain feelings about exercise and working out, and whether positive or not, they motivate us to make the choices that we do," said Michael Spezzano, Vice President of Membership & Program for the YMCA of Greater New York. "Over the course of the 12 weeks of Y Personal Fitness, we focus on positive improvements and gradual successes to help new members make exercise a priority in their life by making it something that they enjoy doing."
In his previous role as the YMCA of the USA's national health & fitness expert, Spezzano was a chief architect of Y Personal Fitness, a national YMCA model. The success other YMCAs have seen in engaging new members was one of the key factors in bringing the program to New York City on such a broad scale.
"YMCAs have seen upwards of 80 percent of Y Personal Fitness participants still exercising regularly after six months, when a 50 percent drop-off rate is common among new exercisers," Spezzano added. "This is really a program designed to help those people who want to make a commitment to their health, but have previously been unable to conquer the obstacles to making it stick."
As part of the YMCA of Greater New York's Fall membership campaign, new YMCA members who join any of the 18 locations throughout the five boroughs can sign up for the Y Personal Fitness program for free. People interested in learning more should visit their local YMCA or ymcanyc.org. Each location will also host a "Meet Our Y Personal Fitness Coach Day" on Monday, September 17, and Saturday October 6, where Coaches will be on hand to get started with new members on the spot. The campaign runs through October 14.
For the press, the YMCA of Greater New York will also host three open house meetings at the Harlem, Long Island City and Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCAs where Michael Spezzano and Y Personal Fitness Coaches will be on hand for a brief press conference, a demonstration of Y Personal Fitness and to answer questions about the program.
The YMCA of Greater New York is a community service organization which promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind and body, welcoming all people, with a focus on youth. Supported in part through contributions to the Strong Kids Campaign, the YMCA provides membership assistance and scholarships to programs like summer camp, child care and teen activities, so that no one is turned away due to an inability to pay. Visit www.ymcanyc.org for more information.