Dear Editor:

As a member of the YMCA who participates in many of the Wellness classes each week, I am disheartened by the Y’s decision to eliminate the position of the Wellness Director. No one has adequately explained the rationale for this decision, and I question whether the leaders of the Y truly understand what it takes to plan and execute an effective Wellness Program — that a quality program involves way more than simply “covering” an existing schedule of classes.

The classes I regularly attend (most developed and taught by Mary Baudo) are popular with a large audience consisting of a great mix of gender, age and fitness level. I have witnessed a huge commitment by the participants in all these classes because the programs that Mary has crafted challenge us, respect us, and motivate us to come back for more. Specifically, the current Wellness Program offers:

• High quality instruction by a consistently professional expert and energetic leader;
• Challenging workouts that can be easily modified or enhanced for different fitness levels, and an instructor who demonstrates how;
• Energetic and fun classes by an instructor who totally “gets” the adult audience;
• Innovative and creative classes (such as PiYo and TRX) that keep the Wellness Program interesting and encourage members to try new things.

With the elimination of the Wellness Director, I wonder who will oversee the quality, consistency and challenge of the instruction, and who will be responsible for developing classes with clear focus on the needs of this audience and respect for our goals. I believe it is truly a shame for the YMCA to lose the position of Wellness Director, and most especially the benefit of Mary’s expertise. Sadly, I also fear that this decision will seriously compromise the quality and integrity of the Wellness Program.

Barbara Brennan
Edgecomb