Health Management
Health goals are achieved every day at the YMCA.
Often our health and wellness are not our top priority. That’s why the YMCA of Three Rivers offers a variety of health and wellness programs to help you learn, move, and connect for better health. At the Y, we believe that better health means a better life.
Whether you’re experiencing a chronic condition and need support, are looking to change your lifestyle to include healthy habits, or want to meet new friends, we’ve got programs to help you start putting your health and well-being first.
Diabetes Fit
Change your life one step at a time.
Are you struggling to get started with healthy habits like exercise? Have you been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or have risk factors that put you at high risk of developing diabetes? Join diabetes fit to change your life, one step at a time.
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Build your movement confidence-participate in guided exercise, at the right pace for you with support from qualified exercise professionals. Learn the steps to safe and effective exercise.
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Increase your nutrition knowledge-learn about building healthy eating habits through registered dietitians.
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Expand your support system-work with caring YMCA wellness coaches and connect with others working towards similar health goals.
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Get active — move more throughout your day in a way that makes you feel better and improves your health.
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Diabetes fit is an evidence based 12-week program with one 90-minute session per week. FREE for YMCA members and non-members. Virtual and in-person programs are available. Access to a device and internet for Zoom video conferencing is required to participate in virtual programs.
Cost: Free for members and non-members.
For more information on upcoming programs, please contact us by email or by phone at 519-743-5201 x 2113
Learn how one of our Health Management program participants changed his life and decided to give back to help others do the same:
Comments from our graduates
"Participating in diabetes fit helped me to understand why exercise was so important to control my blood sugars and to live a healthier lifestyle. My questions were answered. I felt very alone in my journey to wellness before, but knowing I could ask questions in this group really helped me to feel calmer about my pre-diabetes diagnosis and gave me lots of inspiration on setting goals to help improve my health."
"My instructors were so inclusive of everyone in the class and modified things accordingly. They were very welcoming to all!! I felt very comfortable and learned a lot. I did not feel intimidated to participate as they were so accommodating to all."
"The program touched all areas of healthy living and helped to motivate me to do more. Small changes have big results."
Program Partners
Diabetes Fit is supported by Sun Life
Neuro Fit
Smart start to exercise for those living with stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury
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Improve your mood, energy levels and mobility through exercise
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Start at a pace that is appropriate for you with support from qualified staff
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Exercise options are available for those using a cane, walker, or wheelchair
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Virtual and In-Person services are available
The first step to join Neuro Fit is completing a free consultation. Medical approval may be required before starting the program. A YMCA membership is required to participate. Please visit our Membership Pricing and Fee Assistance page for further information.
Press the title of each program below for more information.
Comments from our graduates
"It's a helpful program. Working on strength and stamina are very useful in real life."
"The program is awesome. It is very beneficial. I like how it is geared to my needs. It is nice that the room is for other people with challenges. I like that we get to be with other people. learn from others, talk with others. It is a wonderful program with qualified staff. The program has opened me up and connected me with all these other community programs. We're learning so much about my disease and what I should do. It is amazing to see results."
“This program has improved my life considerably. Twice a week I have a place to go, a place where I feel safe to exercise, friends to talk to and instructors I can ask for advice from.”
“I am able to walk better and to get off the floor now. The staff and participants care about everyone. The YMCA is my extended family.”
Neuro Fit is designated as a Heart Wise exercise program.
Rock Steady Boxing
Fighting back against Parkinson's disease
We are learning every day that there are ways in which people with Parkinson's disease can enhance their quality of life and even build strength, flexibility and speed. By exercising with coaches who know the ropes, you can fight your way out of the corner and start to feel and function better.
Why boxing? Boxers condition for optimal agility, speed, muscular endurance, accuracy, balance, hand-eye coordination, footwork, and overall strength to defend against and overcome opponents. At Rock Steady, a non-contact boxing inspired program, the opponent is Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's causes a loss in many of the same elements that boxers condition to improve. In addition to being an intense, diverse form of training, boxing is also an incredible stress reliever, confidence booster and fun!
There are two class levels: white and red. Our white class is designed for boxers that need additional support and/or seated exercise for safety. A friend or family member attends class with boxers as their 'corner person'. A corner person is required for boxers in the white class level.
The first step to join Rock Steady Boxing is completing a free assessment with a Rock Steady coach to determine appropriate class level before starting program. Medical approval is also required to participate.
There are two ways to participate in our Rock Steady program: in person at the A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA (Kitchener) and/or online through our virtual classes. Access to a device and internet for video conferencing is required to participate in virtual classes.
For additional information or to book a free assessment email Crystal or by phone at 519-743-5201 x 2106
Cost: Rock Steady Boxing is included in a YMCA classic membership with Health Management value add. Membership assistance is available. For further details on membership assistance, please visit: www.feeassist.ca
Rock Steady Boxing at the A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA is an affiliate program of Rock Steady Boxing.
Community Health & Wellness Workshops
Supporting your health and wellness at home.
Please note that all workshops will be hosted on Zoom. Time will be included at the end of each workshop for questions and answers. Workshops are free for YMCA members and non-members. You must register for each workshop through the member portal. Registration links for each workshop are included in the descriptions below.
Can't attend the date of the workshop? Register and you will receive the recording of the workshop to review at a time that works for you.
Cost: Free for members and non-members.
Locations: Virtual
Our next virtual wellness workshops series will be offered late Fall 2023. Details will be posted in September
Heart Wise and the YMCA
Our health management programs follow Heart Wise exercise guidelines developed by the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. A program or class at our YMCA that is designated and approved as heart wise will have the heart wise exercise logo. Heart wise exercise classes meet the following criteria:
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Encourages regular, daily aerobic exercise
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Encourages and incorporates warm up, cool down and self-monitoring with all exercise sessions
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Allows participants to exercise at a safe level and offers options to modify intensity
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Includes participants with chronic health conditions – physician approval may be required
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Offers health screening for all participants
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Has a documented emergency plan that is known to all exercise leaders, including the requirement of current CPR certification, phone access to local paramedic services and presence of a defibrillator.
Approved heart wise program classes cover different types of exercise with different levels of intensity.
Please visit Ottawa Heart Institute for further information: