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34 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 18, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Y fitness helps volunteer leader in and out of gym I f you have ever thought about helping out at a local organization, but were not sure if it was for you, you need to talk to Crystal Cole. Crystal has made volunteering at the YMCA a part of her life ­ and what she gives to others in her fitness classes she says she gets back many times over from helping others. Crystal and her spouse have recently moved to Oakville from Calgary, but are not new to Ontario. She spent more than seven years in Guelph several years ago, and it's there that she became connected with the YMCA organization. "I was a member at the Guelph Y and it was my second home and became a huge part of my life," she said. While in Guelph, Crystal's instructors at the Y encouraged her to take a Fitness Leadership course and learn to teach herself. She took that step and has never looked back. She missed the Y when she moved from Guelph to Bolton, but then was able to be part of a small Calgary YMCA when she relocated to the west. "When we moved back to Ontario in May of 2007, I knew that I had to be somewhere where I could join a YMCA," she said. "I had already come to a fitness instructor open house at the Oakville Y many years ago, so I knew that the YMCA of Oakville would be a good choice, and we joined a week after we moved here." More than just a member, Crystal now teaches a weekly class at the Oakville Y. "I love teaching fitness and it's a lot of fun. You see people come to your class regularly and you know that they like what you do. I enjoy the fact that I can give something back to them." A full-time managementlevel employee and part-time graduate student, Crystal finds that teaching fitness also has real benefits for her life. "It's my stress relief from an intense job. It forces me to keep balance in my life, and it has also taught me skills...like standing in front of a group...that I carry with me to other parts of my life. I hope that I will still be teaching when I am 60," she said. Crystal would encourage anyone to become a volunteer, and also to become a fitness leader. "You don't have to be in perfect shape to be a fitness leader. The studying was challenging, but we had a blast practicing everything and there was always a lot of support to help us through, and the students could take the time they needed to learn everything. The teachers are trained to help you and their PHOTO COURTESY OF YMCA OAKVILLE Crystal Cole goal is for you to succeed." Thanks for making a difference to the people at the YMCA of Oakville, Crystal. For more information on Fitness Leadership training at the YMCA of Oakville, call Kathy Cooper at 905-845-5597 ext. 336. New courses start February 2. The YMCA of Oakville is a charitable association open to all, dedicated to providing lifelong opportunities for health enhancement and personal growth. -- Submitted by the YMCA of Oakville www.silkeborg.ca one-day sale 2007 COLLECTION COATS* up to $800.00 BLOUSES & TOPS* up to $300 $250 SWEATERS* up to $500 $75 EMMETT PLAYS CLAPTON RUBBER BAND DANCE Friday January 25th Victor Quijada has an eclectic background ranging from ballet to jazz, hip hop to modern. He brings to the stage his practice of breakdancing and highlighting many aspects of jazz and ballet into a new form of high energy dance! Proceeds donated to Oakville Rotary Water for Humanity Project THE COMEDY LOUNGE Saturday January 26th Enjoy an eclectic mix of stand-up, sketch and improv hosted by Jon Dore, and featuring Sean Cullen plus one more guest comedian. This is sure to be a night of laugh-a-minute stand-up comedy! Language and content may offend some. MAGICAL MOMENTS IN TIME Sunday January 27th Recommended Age Range: 7+ years. In Ted and Marion Outerbridge's Magical Moments in Time, comedy meets mind-bending illusions, making for a uniquely bewitching and hilarious performance of dance, magic & theatre. PANTS & SKIRTS* up to $300 Thursday January 24th Rik Emmett explains... "It's very liberating for me to be able to lose myself in the classic music of Eric Clapton, to shed all the baggage of three decades of my own repertoire. And it's just such a fantastic body of work to choose from." $225 $75 *as quantities last. *On selected merchandise only! Join us Saturday January 19th, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. O L NE H UNDRED &S IXTY -S IX All performances are at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts To order tickets call 905-815-2021 or 1-888-489-7784 AKESHORE ROAD EAST, OA ( 9 0 5 ) 3 37 - 315 5 KVILLE Order on-line www.oakvillecentre.ca