RYE Y STORY PROJECT: 2017

	I was a member of the White Plains Y for 20-30 years and I had never used any other facility. Recently their pools broke down and I needed a place to swim. Read more.
	I’m from Argentina. I came to this country about 17 years ago. I met a friend who works at the Y in White Plains. Through her, we knew about the Y. My kids took their first swimming lessons there. Read more.
	My wife and I just re-joined the Rye Y. We belonged to a more expensive gym and it didn’t go well. We weren’t happy there. So we haven’t exercised for a while. I’m a type 2 diabetic and the doctors said “you’ve got to exercise.” Read more.
	My family moved from Port Jefferson (where we had lived for 17 years) to Westchester 11 years ago. We first lived in Larchmont in an apartment for about 18 months and then bought a house in Rye in 2007. Read more.
	The YMCA is an essential, integral part of my life in terms of good self care and exercise. It is so important that I have a place to come and de-stress so I can do the work I do as clergy. Everyone who knows me knows this is my happy time. Read more.
	I’m 62 years old and I’ve never lived in Rye but I’ve been coming to this Y for 55 years. I first started coming here when I was seven years old. The oldest of five boys–my mother I’m sure wanted to get rid of all of us–I think she used the facility as a babysitting service. Read more.
	I’ve been a member of the Rye YMCA for about 10 years now; some of those years I “phoned it in” but recently I’ve been here 5-6 days a week. Let me start by saying I don’t know which I hate more– exercise or vegetables. Currently they are neck in neck but I’m in the process of “peace talks” with both topic. Read more.
	I have lived in Rye since 1975 and joined the Rye Y about 33 years ago. I needed a place to work out. I heard about it through some friends and I met quite a few of the trainers and instructors; I became very comfortable here. Read more.
	I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately because of people in my life who have had cancer. The members of my water exercise class made videos in the past year to send to two members who were sick and their families. One of them passed away last week. I realize it makes an impact to reach out like that. The families appreciate it. Read more.
	Twenty years ago, I joined the Rye Y and tried to get back into swimming, but work got in the way. I had a demanding career and devoted all my time to it. I swam in college for the University of New Mexico but then took a 25-30 year break. I got so focused on my career that I forgot all about swimming. Read more.
	Two years ago I applied for a position at the Rye Y summer camp. I was granted the wonderful opportunity to have an interview but it conflicted with my school schedule so I was unable to attend. At the end of my semester in school I was still in need of a job for the summer so I tried the Rye Y a second time explaining what happened. Read more.
	I’ve been here since 1974. I belong to the Rye Association for the Handicapped. Many of us came to the swim program. Many didn’t continue. But the water program was always there. And I still belong to that organization. Read more.
	I was so happy to find the Rye Y this year! We moved from South Africa two years ago and the Rye Y has accommodated us and made us feel very welcome. My 6-year-old daughter, Alexia, went to summer camp and loved it. She keeps talking about it. She learned how to swim at camp. Read more.
	My experience at the Rye Y changed my career direction. I used to come to the Y when I was younger for swim lessons so when I took a gap year before my junior year in college, I gravitated to the Y. Read more.
	I have shared my Y story before but have been wanting to tell an update for some time. Anna was the lifeguard at Aqua Jog. At the end of one class, I started having a horrible leg cramp. I was in so much pain I wanted to scream. Read more.
	I’ve been a member of the YMCA my whole life. I started in Westfield, New Jersey at the Y learning to swim when I was a kid. I went to the Y camps every summer as a youth—soccer, basketball, hockey—every camp they had, I did. Read more.
	I moved to the area in the beginning of July. I have played soccer and tennis in the past, but problems with my knees have gotten me more involved with swimming. It seemed like the Rye Y was the only pool in the area, so I decided to try it out. Read more.
	We moved to America almost two years ago, just as winter was setting in. I came here early on in our time in Rye because a friend had recommended it. She was English, like me she had two boys and she said that the Y had been useful to them in many respects. Read more.
	A friend recommended Aqua Jog at the Y to me. She is retired and thought I would enjoy it. I do Aqua Jog four times a week. Aqua Jog has helped me get fitter so now I do the Basic Training program with Laura three times a week. Read more
	I joined the Rye Association for the Handicapped many, many years ago when we had a lot of people who needed help, which we don’t have right now. I enjoyed it and I helped them. I’m thankful for the YMCA that we are here as a family. Read more.
	I am having a wonderful journey at the Rye Y. My day starts off with a warm welcome and smile from Barbara Hughes and her staff, who always accommodates anyone’s needs or questions. Read more.
	I moved to Rye 21 years ago. I always had a passion for leading group exercise and since the Rye Y was so close, I applied to teach here. I taught group exercise in the old gym and then started personal training. Read more.
	I moved here from the city in 1999, when my kids were small. Charlie Clute hired me to teach the Alexander Technique, which we don’t teach here anymore. He then coached me and spurred me on to teach older adult fitness. Read more.
	I live in New Rochelle. I was born and raised there. I was originally a member at the White Plains Y. They had some pool complications and I’d always heard about this gym and how clean it is and how organized and I see it firsthand. Read more.
	I’ve been involved with the Y since I was eight years old. It was the early 1950s and I was put on a bus for a 7-8 hour ride to Camp Mohican on Lake George. Read more.
	We moved here two years ago from the Netherlands and joined the Rye Y in April. I wanted a way for the whole family to be together instead of going to a million places with my kids scattered all around. The kids need time to play and not spend their time sitting in the car going from place to place. Read more.
	I’ve been coming to the Y for 18 years. When I started, my oldest child was in 2nd grade and the younger two were in pre-school. Now my oldest is 24 and the others are in college. They took swimming classes here and went to summer camp. Read more.
	I first became connected to the Rye YMCA when Tatum reached out to me to see if I would be interested in a Sports Instructor position. I was working at the New Rochelle Y at the time, and had gained a lot of experience with children through my work as a pre-school teacher. Read more.
	I came from Spain. We decided to come to Rye to live for one year with my daughter, who is very happy in Rye High School. I decided to come to the Y because I needed to feel part of the community. I started with Zumba classes and then Pilates. Read more.
	I was at the White Plains Y and then I switched here because I was doing the [pre-endurance] swim classes with Cathy. Also, I’m a member of the Tri Club and most of my club mates train here. So I just thought it made sense to switch to this Y. I’m liking it so far. Read more.
	I’ve been a member of the Rye Y for about 20 years. But I was a member of the Westside Y in New York City for about 15, 20 years also. I joined this Y when I moved to Rye. Read more.
	I’ve been coming to the Y for a few years now. My three children first brought me here; I enrolled each of them into summer camp. Thereafter, I enrolled each of them into the basic swim classes. Luke, the youngest, recently learned to swim. Read more.
	My family and I moved from the Washington DC area to Rye in 1995 and joined the Y in 1996. I have been using the Y for more than 20 years as a place to work out and learn from the excellent trainers. Read more.
	I became a member at the Rye Y as I live in Port Chester and wanted to join a gym that was close by. I also wanted a nice clean gym as I love to work out. I thought at first the Y was expensive but it was well worth it coming here after a few times with all the amenities and things. Read more.
	I’ve been in Rye for almost 30 years and have been with the YMCA at least two decades. My older son Syd is 17 years old and I think when he was six months old we started coming to the Y very regularly. Read more.
	I became a Y member when I moved into the area in 2001. I was a member of the Y where I lived before and I swim. It’s really hard to do lap swimming without a Y. I come every two or three days. My goal is to stay fit. Read more.
	A year ago we moved to Rye Brook from Massachusetts. We are a family of five with kids ages 7, 9 and Ethan is almost 2. We were drawn to the area because of the great schools and because my husband’s family lives nearby. My in-laws are members of the Rye Y and brought us here. Read more.
	In July 2009, I had just graduated from college and I was looking for a part-time job. I knew I would be commuting into New York City to go to graduate school to get my master’s degree. Read more.
	My son Anthony was born in October 1996 and my family and I moved to Rye from New York City in March 1997. We joined the Y a few months later. My wife would take my son here when he was a baby for the many activities that the Y offers for children. Read more.