Sasha Erfanian, Centretown News
Nominated for the YMCA-YWCA Volunteer Fitness Leader of the Year Award, Marie-Josée Frenette teaches classes once a week during her lunch hour.Not many pregnant women would teach aerobics a week before their child is born. For Marie-Josée Frenette, the Downtown YMCA-YWCA’s nominee for Volunteer Fitness Leader of the Year Award, it’s just how she lives her life.
The award is handed out each year at the YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region’s fitness conference.
It recognizes a volunteer instructor who is making a difference in their community.
Each YMCA-YWCA in the area allows members to fill out nomination forms, and one male and one female are chosen to receive the award at the conference.
Frenette, 37, used to teach aerobics at a number of gyms around the city.
When her son was born two-and-a-half years ago, she was stuck at home for a few months. She volunteered at the Nepean Y for a while before returning to work.
Working near the Downtown Y at 99 Bank St., she started volunteering there.
“I really, really enjoy teaching aerobics,” says Frenette. “It makes my day, and I hope I am able transfer some of that energy to my participants.”
Frenette, who usually teaches classes once a week during her lunch hour, says that regular exercise is a must for her. She says it’s an important mood stabilizer for her.
“You get your own boost of energy from doing the exercise, but you have all of these people in the class in front of you that are pouring out their energy at the same time and I find it a really nice synergy,” she says.
Frenette says she prides herself on creating a variety of different workouts in her classes and responding to feedback.
“I’ll often ask them what they feel like doing next week,” says Frenette.
“They’ll say core or something, so that gives me something during the week to work towards, to develop something that’s a little bit different and a little bit fun and a little bit geared towards what they want to do.”
Christine Eckhardt, regional director and manager of the Centretown-based Y, described in an email the ideal nominee for the Volunteer Fitness Leader of the Year Award as someone with strong communication skills, energy, leadership, fun and who is committed to the Y’s mission, vision and values.
Pascale Lagacé, one of Frenette’s friends and a co-worker, says when she quit smoking about 18 months ago, she was determined to get back into shape. She says Frenette was a great motivator for her.
“I have become as addicted to fitness as she is,” says Lagacé.
Lagacé goes to fitness classes every day at lunch. She says she has seen her fair share of fitness instructors, and Frenette is one of the best.
“She’s very people oriented,” Lagacé says.
“She knows there’s a difference between a 20-year-old and a 50-year-old, and she bears that in mind. And she’s fun.”
The winners of the Volunteer Fitness Leader of the Year Award will be announced April 11 at the YMCA-YWCA’s 14th annual Connexion Ottawa Fitness Conference.