LUCY KRIEGER: THE Y IS HELPING THIS LIVESTRONG PARTICIPANT WALK INTO HER RETIREMENT WITH A LITTLE MORE EASE
When Lucy Krieger received news that she would be battling breast cancer last year, her world was turned upside. She was due to retire from her job as a paraprofessional in the Dracut School system in June. “My health comes first,” she said. Lucy retired six months early and focused on getting healthy after her breast cancer surgery.
She joined the Y’s “Walk With Ease” program with her husband last year. “It’s a great class. We start by warming up and stretching, then walk around the track. We worked up to improve our time. Joe (Lucy’s husband) loved it, too. He wanted to be competitive with me and try to beat me around the track! I would recommend Walk with Ease to anybody. It’s nice way to get into exercising. It’s not strenuous and has helped with my endurance,” she said.
The eight-week “Walk With Ease” program teaches participants how to safely make physical activity part of everyday life. The proven curriculum can help to reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis, increase participant’s balance, strength and pace as well as build overall confidence.
Lucy has enjoyed the camaraderie with her LiveSTRONG classmates. LiveSTRONG at the YMCA is an evidence-based, 12-week program that helps adult cancer survivors reclaim their health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis. The Y offers welcoming community in which cancer survivors work to improve their cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, balance and flexibility. Through clinical trials, the program has been proven to: improve a survivor’s cardiovascular function, strength, and physical fitness, while also reducing fatigue and improving overall quality of life. Since 2007, the LiveSTRONG Foundation has been the YMCA’s partner in developing and delivering LiveSTRONG® at the YMCA. Since the program began at the YMCA of Greater Nashua, nearly 600 cancer survivors have gained confidence, strength and have found a strong support system in the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program.
“I really love LiveSTRONG. I’m working every day to get stronger. Eirkiur (LiveSTRONG instructor) is great at showing us how to use cardiovascular machines and making sure my form is correct. I did some exercise before this program, but not to the extent I am now. It’s terrific that the Y provides LiveSTRONG. Eirkiur is phenomenal. She’s very caring. A couple of weeks ago I fell on the ice. My wrist was sore. She showed me exercises that didn’t require me to use my wrist.”
Lucy has taken the opportunity to try other classes at the Y. She and her son Jeff took “Pound” together. Pound is a cardio class using weighted drumsticks engineered specifically for exercising. Participants enjoy a nonstop series of songs and drum in different positions to different rhythms. After the class, Jeff came back and joined the Y, Lucy shared. “Pound class was quite the experience! It is very fast paced. The instructor was excellent. We were drumming on the floor and in the air with drum sticks. It helps with coordination. We were jumping up and down!,” she said. ”The Y is a terrific part of my retirement. I love coming. I feel very comfortable coming during the pandemic. It’s very clean here. I’m more than safe here.” Next up for Lucy: Zumba classes in the swimming pool! “I wish the weather would clear up so I could go to the Y more often.” Lucy said.
Livestrong at the YMCA helps adult cancer survivors reclaim their health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis. Survivors can improve their strength and physical fitness, diminish the severity of therapy side effects, develop supportive relationships, and improve their quality of life. Since 2007, the LiveSTRONG Foundation has been the YMCA’s partner in developing and delivering Livestrong at the YMCA.