1000 Workouts: Experienced Exerciser Places Trust In Y Personal Training

Margie Hindman has been a member of the YMCA for 25 plus years. But that isn’t the milestone we are celebrating with her. She just bought her 100th Personal Training Package. That means when this package is completed, she will have had her 1,000 personal training workout.

Margie has been working with YMCA’s personal trainer, Alan Satterly for the past 8 years. Margie says that she used to be intimidated by working out, but Alan has helped her gain the confidence to tackle any machine. She uses a variety of machines and classes in her personal training workouts. Rowing machine, spin class, treadmill, and Nordic Track to name a few. Margie says that it is sometimes hard to improve on your own. Alan was that person that just pushed her far enough to attain her personal fitness goals.

Margie feels so strongly about the benefits of personal training, that she has in fact given some of her sessions to other members so they can reap the benefits of personal training. Margie recently competed in a mountain bike race in Marquette, Michigan. Alan designed her personal training to prepare her for the event. Not only did Margie finish the race, but she came in first in her age bracket.

If you see Margie around the Y (and chances are you will), congratulate her on her dedication and determination. We are proud of you!

If you are interested in signing up for personal training sessions, call Cindy Kropid at the Kerasotes YMCA (217-679-1625) or Elena Holler (217-544-9846) at the Downtown YMCA.

Former SPY Swim Team Member Ryan Held Sets Fastest Times in NCAA Season to Date

Congratulations to former Springfield Y Swimmer Ryan Held! He continues to blow us away… or should we say out of the water!

On Wednesday at the Men's ACC Championship Ryan led off the 800 Free Relay for NC State. They posted the fastest time in the NCAA season to date. Just earlier that evening they posted the fastest 200 Medley Relay time in NCAA season to date with Ryan anchoring!

He then went on to win the 50 Free Thursday in 18.92 (third fastest time in NCAA's this season) and led off the 200 Free Relay (fastest time in NCAA's this season). He has the 200 Free today and 100 Free tomorrow for individual events and likely a relay each evening to wrap up the ACC Championship.

Help us cheer Ryan on! Catch him each evening on ESPN3 at 5p CST, where finals will be streaming. You can also check swimswam.com to read stories and see pictures and video.

We are so proud of our SPY swimmer and feel so honored to be a part of his journey! #ForaBetterUs

To learn more about our swim team click here.

Young Member Wants to Join the Military, But First Needs to Get Fit

This is Riley, waiting for the plane that will take him to Basic Training.

Riley joined the Lose Big Challenge this year with his parents. His goal was to lose enough weight to be fit enough to board this plane.

He joined Coach Carrie's team at 234.5lbs. Last Friday, Feb. 19th he weighed in at 219lbs. On Tuesday, Feb. 23rd, he weighed in at an astounding 209lbs and was able to leave for Basic Training!

Riley reminds us that if you want something bad enough, you will go out and get it! The Y is honored to be a part of his journey. We are so happy Riley reached his goal and wish him the best of luck at Basic Training.

The Y is always there for whatever dream or goal you may have, no matter who you are, how old you are, or where you are from. Join the Y today and let us offer you the support you seek. How can we bridge the gap between today and a brighter tomorrow?

Good luck Riley! We can't wait to hear from you!

Dorian Loses 100 Pounds and Gains More Than Muscle

Meet Dorian. Most Y Kids know Dorian as their beloved Group Leader in Before and After School Care at Ball Chatham. What they may not remember is that Dorian wasn’t always as agile and fit as he is today!

Since working at the YMCA, Dorian has dropped an astounding 100 lbs. Two years ago he weighed in at 285lbs. He lost the weight and dropped down to 169lbs! After this initial weight loss, he knew he wanted to fill out his physique and put on some muscle. Today, Dorian sits at 185lbs of lean body mass.

He says he loves to take fitness classes and makes sure to get his weight lifting in. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday he focuses on abs and upper body. On Tuesdays and Thursdays he does lower body. Every day he fits in cardio.

His favorite time to work out is 5:30 in the morning! His good friend Jamal often picks him up at 4:30AM. They get coffee, lift, play basketball and enjoy the steam room. He credits Jamal with getting him into fitness and offering support.

Dorian has completely changed his lifestyle and his body. He sets a positive, healthy example for our Y kids and is a result of the Y mission. He has built a healthy spirit, mind, and body.

Interested in starting your own journey to health? Visit the Y today. Discover support, guidance, motivation, information, and a better you. 

Kris Says the Y Changed the Trajectory of His Life

Kristen was 10 when he first stepped into the Downtown Springfield YMCA. Kristen’s parents wanted to find a safe place for him and his brothers to go while they were working. They hoped the YMCA would be the place to fill some unsupervised time. They hoped the YMCA would be a safe place to keep them out of trouble. What they didn’t know was it was a place that so much more was going to happen for their son.

They applied for a YMCA scholarship and became members. His father owned a car dealership about six blocks from the Downtown branch and Kristen would walk to the YMCA every day which was not only a long walk, but a somewhat dangerous one. Nonetheless, he spent his summers and some after school days at the YMCA. He said this is where he learned some of his best life lessons.

In addition to the many activities that took place during the summer program, Kristen says he can remember long summers sitting in the Youth Lobby listening to camp personnel talk about wrong and right decisions and that what you do when people aren’t watching you is as important as when they are watching you. He will admit he had a temper and would occasionally find himself in a physical fight with another camper. He said he would always remember what Miss Anna, a YMCA personnel that is still with the downtown YMCA would say. “It takes a bigger man to walk away, than throw a fist.” This resonated with him and shaped his attitude and approach to life.

He has turned the negativity of fighting into something incredibly positive. In addition to taking Tae Kwon Do and staying fit at the YMCA, he also trains and travels with The Garage MMA. Kristen also believes that giving back to his community is so incredibly important. Kristen is a job coach for United Cerebral Palsy. He says “life is a fight – everything is a fight.” 

He takes those words to heart as he fights for people of different disabilities. His role as a job coach is very rewarding. He believes his client can gain independence, be productive and be included in the community. He makes sure his client gets to and from work and also helps him monitor his diabetes through healthy eating.  

Today, Kristen is married to Saundi and they have two beautiful children. Krysten is 6 years old and Kristopher is 8 months old. Kristen says his family is everything to him. They, too are YMCA scholarship recipients thanks to the funds raised by The Strong Kids Scholarship Fund. This fund ensures that individuals interested in being a part of the Y family are able to join the YMCA and this is done through generous donations from the community and members. They live fairly close to the Downtown YMCA which enables him to run to the YMCA for his fitness regimen. So, what use to be a scary walk to the YMCA as a child is now a welcomed and invigorating run. Raising two young children can be exhausting, so Saundi looks forward to her time at the YMCA by taking Zumba, and Body Conditioning classes. Their daughter, Krysten enjoys the ballet and tap classes and is looking forward to taking gymnastics this spring. In addition, the entire family will be taking swim lessons this spring.

A lifelong dream of Kristen’s is to join the Army National Guard. He will continue his “fight” and will be leaving shortly to make this dream a reality. He says that he doesn’t know where he would be today without the compassionate, guiding presence of the YMCA in his life. Kristen is truly a YMCA Strong Kid!