YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo

Health and Wellness Programs

Our health and wellness programs are well designed to maintain and improve health and personal quality of life and many program participants graduate to enjoy much wider participation in YMCA programming.

Smart Start To Healthy Living

Program partners include Canadian Diabetes Association, Grand River Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre, and Lang's Farm Community Health Centre. This program is designed for individuals at risk of diabetes or those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The program runs for eight weeks and includes a mix of education and exercise. Education sessions cover topics such as exercise guidelines, diet, footcare, and SMART goal setting. Sessions are led by YMCA fitness staff and guest speakers, including a registered dietician. Program participants meet twice weekly for 1 to 1.5 hour sessions. Participants also receive a YMCA membership for the duration of the program so they may access the YMCA outside of the Smart Start program. Programs are run in Cambridge and Kitchener.

Smart Start To A Healthy Heart

Program partners include Cambridge Memorial Hospital and Cambridge Cardiac Care Centre. This program is an eight week supervised exercise maintenance program designed for individuals who have completed their rehabilitative program at the hospital or cardiac care centre or who are at risk of developing heart disease. Programs are running in Cambridge.

Smart Start Programs Video