This issue we spoke with Murphy Coville, the association director of community health at the YMCA of Greater Boston, about the Y’s Healthy Habits program.
How did the idea of the Healthy Habits program first come about?
MC: Healthy Habits at YMCA of Greater Boston was originally created when we realized many of the chronic illnesses on the rise in our country could be prevented by healthier lifestyle choices. This program allows us to help people create long-lasting change in their lives. We focus on teaching the necessary basics on fitness, nutrition, stress relief, sleep and social connection. We wanted to make sure it was well-rounded and focused on not just physical health but also mental. Just having the knowledge of what to do and how to do it can be life-changing for those who never received health education.
Why do you believe this program has been successful? What’s the reaction from the community been like?
MC: I feel like this program has been successful due to the community aspect of it. We really encourage the participants to share and learn from each other. We have wonderful trainers leading the classes, but we’ve always found camaraderie and being able to connect with people who have a similar goal is what keeps them coming back and motivated. Often, we see the groups continuing to meet and workout at our Y’s together long after their session has ended.
Detail how you hope this program grows in the future.
MC: We hope to see this program grow not only in numbers but spread to new locations. This is something that anyone can attend and learn from. It’s for people at all fitness levels and levels of health awareness. Since we run this at no cost, we hope to continue to serve communities that are lacking in resources and proper health education. These are the areas where we see much higher numbers of chronic illness like diabetes, hypertension, etc.
What should other industry leaders know about starting their own wellness program?
MC: I think the most important thing to keep in mind when starting a wellness program is the mindset of the community you’re serving. The big question is, “How can we help them?” But the smaller questions also matter, like: “How can we create lasting change in participants? What resources do they have once the program is over? Are the goals of this program feasible for them long term?” We always strive to make our programs accessible and truly useful to all.
