When Julia joined the Gordon Family YMCA, she was ready to make a change. As a mother of three, she had spent years putting her family’s needs before her own, and over time she noticed her health was making it harder to enjoy everyday moments with her children. Long walks became difficult, and the active lifestyle she had once loved felt farther away.
With encouragement from her husband, Julia signed up for KickStart, the YMCA’s coaching program for new members, where she met Healthy Living Coordinator, Amber Ross.
“We spent the whole hour talking,” Amber said. “She shared that she’d been very active growing up and really wanted to get back to feeling strong again.”
Amber suggested Julia start with yoga while she continued physical therapy through Olympic Sports and Spine, located inside the Gordon Family YMCA. That combination helped her improve her mobility, build strength, and regain confidence in what her body could do. More importantly, it gave her a routine she enjoyed enough to stick with.
As the months went by, Julia became a familiar face at the Y. During the Annual Campaign, after hearing Amber share how financial assistance helps people access YMCA programs, Julia made a donation herself. She said she wanted someone else to experience the same sense of welcome and support she had found.
When Amber later mentioned an Introduction to Weight Training class, Julia decided she was ready for another challenge. The class introduced her to new exercises and connected her with another member, Roxanne. Before long, the two became workout partners, encouraging each other as they learned new lifts and celebrated milestones together.
The class also reminded Julia of a goal she hadn’t thought about in years. In high school, classmates had nicknamed her “Muscles Murph” after she bench pressed 100 pounds.
“Now I call her Muscles Murph again,” Amber said.
A few months later, a family emergency sent her back home to the Midwest. When she returned to Washington, one of the first places she wanted to be back at was the Gordon Family YMCA.
“I always ask members what brought them back,” Amber said. “For Julia, she wanted to be back here with the people and relationships she’d built.
Today, Julia continues working out with her friends while her children participate in YMCA programs nearby. What started as a commitment to improve her health has become an important part of her family’s life. Along the way, she’s found friendships, encouragement, and the confidence to keep challenging herself.