LIVESTRONG at the YMCA

Cancer is a life-changing disease that takes a tremendous physical and emotional toll on those affected. The Y and the LIVESTRONG Foundation have joined together to create LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a 12-week exercise program offered at no cost to help survivors improve their strength and physical fitness, diminish the severity of therapy side effects, develop supportive relationships and improve their quality of life.

Participants work with Y staff trained in supportive cancer care to safely achieve their goals such as building muscle mass and strength; increasing flexibility and endurance; and improving confidence and self-esteem. By focusing on the whole person and not the disease, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is helping people move beyond cancer in spirit, mind and body.

The LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program carries a waitlist of as many as 40 people. The group remains small due to facility space restrictions—a total of 12 people for each 12-week session to offer individualized attention based on specific cancer-related conditions and to allow the group to develop the relationships necessary to combat depression and anxiety. With the expansion of the Y's Don Stathos Campus, the Y has been able to grow the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program. We now offer two sessions each quarter, serving twice as many people as we previously were able to. 

We know that staying active and reducing stress is sometimes easier said than done when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer. Whether you are on our LIVESTRONG at the YMCA waitlist, immunocompromised or struggling to balance work and family life, our new RECLAIM: Cancer Exercise Video Series is here for you to use from the comfort and safety of your own home, on your own schedule. These videos draw from our specially trained instructors' experience working with survivors over the last five years and include proven post-treatment exercise and self-care content.

RECLAIM: Cancer Exercise Video Series