Published: 08/06/2026 - 8:00 AM
About ten years ago, Alice survived a traumatic brain injury that took a significant toll on her memory, and on her ability to connect with others. She found herself avoiding people entirely, sometimes going weeks without leaving her home. "I began to hate people. I avoided them as much as possible."
With the support of her medical team, located just next door to the Y, Alice began the slow work of recovery: relearning how to read, how to hold a conversation, how to be around others without fear. Through cognitive behavioral training, she learned that rebuilding her social life wasn't optional, it was part of healing. But the idea still terrified her.
One day, while at a doctor's appointment, she decided to try becoming a Y member, secretly hoping she wouldn't be accepted so she could avoid the challenge altogether. Her insurance was accepted. Retired and on a fixed budget, she started small, spending time alone in the exercise area and steering clear of other people.
Then she heard about the water exercise classes. Her first class was on Wednesdays, with instructor Eileen. She was afraid on two fronts: she didn't know how to swim, and the thought of being around other women felt overwhelming.
"I soon started to calm down and realized, hey, this was really nice. Everyone at the Y was kind to me, and the ladies were fabulous. Eileen is absolutely wonderful."
Slowly, she began to mingle, and conversations followed. The change didn't go unnoticed. Both her son and her doctor remarked on the shift in her within a couple of months. She found herself looking forward to Wednesdays, surprised by her own excitement. Her neurologist had told her that personality changes were likely, given both the brain injury and a mild stroke she'd also experienced. Socializing was one of many things she had to relearn from the ground up.
Encouraged by her progress, she eventually added a second class to her week, joining instructor Allison's Friday session, which she's since come to love just as much. Today, she knows her classmates by name, and they know hers.
"I am so grateful for my doctors, and I am so grateful for the Northeast YMCA. It has been truly a godsend for me."
There are many benefits to participating in group exercise classes - from developing community to diversifying your workout routine. Click the link below to read the full list.