In 2005 I moved to Barrie as a fifty-one year old gentlemen, after going through an unfortunate separation. After a short time my son (one of my three children) decided to reside in Barrie as well. He is an enthusiastic body-builder and began going to the Y. I decided to join him, more for reasons of companionship than anything else.

After taking on a programme I began to observe a change in my well-being. Exercise was very energizing and was also uplifting. I looked at various classes and found out that Yoga was a great warm-up for further exercise as well as pacifying in terms of stress. I tended, at first to be a little erratic in terms of my attendance and perseverance. I have now re-asserted myself and have concluded that I cannot do without the holistic quality of what the Y has to offer…and what I have to offer myself!!

Being a volunteer is very beneficial for two reasons. Firstly, it gives me the opportunity to share what I have learned regarding how people approaching “senior hood” can re-vitalize their lives, and secondly it is a fun and engaging social experience for myself, which helps give me a more positive attitude about my own life, and my role in society.

Regards
David Patterson