EMILY TELLER: STAYING HEALTHY AND MAKING FRIENDS AT THE Y

Meet Emily Teller, a Y member who plans a good part of her week around the Nashua Y’s water aerobics classes. “This is a real commitment to me every week. It’s keeping me mobile, healthy and engaged. At end of each class I dive in the pool two times. At age 73, if I’m continuing to do that, I think I’m doing pretty well,” she said. Emily has been a member for about three years. She drives 40 minutes from Westford, Mass. to get to the Y. An active senior citizen, Emily enjoys concerts, museums, galleries, plays, and sings in the Concord Women’s Choir, a 40-voice audition ensemble from Concord and greater Boston. The group performs a wide range of classical and contemporary music with emphasis on works written for women’s voices. She was invited to join in 2010, after an audition. “Being a Y member is also a significant part of my life,” she shared.

Emily and her husband Tom joined the Y to help her husband get healthier. He was diagnosed with diabetes and needed to exercise to improve his overall wellness. Thomas had been a member years ago when the Y was located on Prospect Street and he worked at Daniel Webster College. “He used to swim a mile several times a week before classes, in the morning, at the old Y.” When Emily and Thomas took a senior membership at our new Nashua location, Thomas regularly used the cardio equipment. Emily started aqua aerobics classes. “Jess was a powerhouse aqua fitness instructor. I adored her. Her music was energizing and amazing. I moved every joint and muscle in my body.” She lauds Amber, another aqua fitness instructor, “Amber is so fabulous, so positive all the time. She’s encouraging. She knows the names of the people in our class. I’m equally loyal to Amber as I was to Jess.”

“I love the dedication of the instructors at the Y. I feel a commitment to them because they are so dedicated and passionate. They help me stay healthy,” she said. Another highlight Emily shared is the music played during class. “I love the funky music. Amber has been playing Broadway tunes lately!” Members get to know each other. When one aqua classmate had knee replacement, the class members sent get well cards, and when her husband died, also sent a floral arrangement.

A bonus for Emily was her grandchildren’s enjoyment of swimming at the Y. When her grandchildren lived with her a few years ago, she upgraded her membership to a family membership so the children could enjoy the pool. “My grandson passed his swimming test at the gorgeous Merrimack Y swimming pool, and my granddaughter in this Y’s pool,” she said.

Emily shared that when the pandemic hit, she became a little nervous with indoor exercising. “I’m impressed that the Y took COVID seriously and limited the number of people working out. The reservation system worked well for me. I had to sign up at the stroke of time that classes opened up to get in,” she said.

She and her husband maintained their membership throughout the pandemic. “We felt it was important to support the Y and its programs and people. The staff is wonderful. Everyone is cheerful, courteous, helpful. We can tell they enjoy working at the Y.”

Thank you, Emily and Thomas, for your unwavering support of the Y!