CANANDAIGUA, NY — According to a study released last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fewer than 30% of Americans follow the Department of Health’s recommendation of about 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each day and at least two days per week of muscle-building exercise.
An eGym program at gyms across the state takes the hassle out of exercising.
When it comes to working out, people like Rachel Toland, a participant in the Sand’s Family YMCA’s eGym program, know that getting back into the swing of things isn’t always fun.
“I’ve been training for about 20 years, I’d say, but with career changes, moving and so on, I kind of fell out of it and needed something new and exciting to get back into it,” Toland said. “Because after a while, it gets so monotonous and boring doing the same thing over and over again.”
That’s exactly why she decided to join the eGym program at Sand’s Family YMCA.
“With eGym, I like that it tracks all of my fitness and I get all of the points,” she said. “Although I’m not competitive, I like to see the points so I can reflect on what I’ve done.”
“eGym has many great features: It’s fun, it’s effective, it’s based on science and it’s personalized. That’s why it’s so great,” says Amy Jo Bugenhagen, health and wellness director at the Sands Family YMCA.
Participants first receive a wellness treatment and then a bracelet on which all their data is recorded.
“We adjust your seat and range of motion and then do a strength test for each part so that the whole thing is tailored to you and your current stage on the road to fitness,” said Bugenhagen.
“All you have to do is sit down and follow the instructions on the screen,” said Michelle Andrews, wellness coach at the Sands Family YMCA.
They take the guesswork out of training, no matter where you are on your training journey.
“I lift more weights because it allows me to track how much weight I’m actually lifting… I remember I used to always take a notepad and a pen with me and write it down. I don’t have to do that anymore because it’s right on my phone, right in the app,” Toland said.
“It’s a very holistic approach for people of all ages. Whether you’re an athlete or a layperson, you’ll be guided, always safe and having fun,” Andrews said.
It increases strength and motivation at the same time.
“Sometimes you get bored and you don’t want to continue because you think, ‘Okay, let’s do the same thing every day.’ But I’m going to continue my journey so I don’t get bored,” Toland said.
