WALKING GROUP FITNESS POSTER — That is what Tracy Frick’s friends think of the current YMCA wellness coordinator and married mother of two. Ironically, she did not even begin group exercise until she was 34 years old. (Photo by David Hazledine)

WARSAW — Tracy Frick, wellness coordinator for the Kosciusko Community YMCA, was 34 years old before she discovered she had a passion for group fitness; however, these days, she admitted, “I can’t imagine my life without it.”

Growing up in Elkhart, where she attended Central High School, Frick particularly enjoyed theater. She also studied Japanese, which she continued at Indiana University in Bloomington, where she majored in east Asian studies with thoughts of becoming an interpreter.

Frick met her husband, Sean, in high school. The couple have been together 19 years and have two boys, Theo, 13 and Leo, 3. It was in 2008, when his job transfer sent him to Georgia, Tracy decided to try a group fitness class.

“I loved it,” she remembered. “The instructor was amazing … you felt like he was your best friend.”

That instructor eventually recommended Frick lead some classes. “He saw something in me I didn’t,” she commented.

While still living in Georgia, the Fricks built a house at Dewart Lake on land which had been in Sean’s family since the 1940s. So when he was transferred back to Indiana they moved in full time, and Tracy started teaching a body sculpting class at the North Webster YMCA.

When she saw the Warsaw branch was looking for a wellness coordinator, she realized the job description matched much of what she had done in Georgia.

Frick was already a believer in the Y’s message, to put Christian principles into practice through programs that help a healthy spirit, mind and body for all, while focusing on the core values of respect, responsibility, honesty and caring. She also loves working with Stacy Thomas. “She’s great,” Frick exclaimed, “and she rarely tells me no.”

So, along with her normal responsibilities: helping with staff support, group instructor scheduling and coordination of the many monitors and coaches who are on the floor ready to help members with questions and equipment, Frick has also organized events like the Winter Preview and Cyclothon, featuring the launch of five group exercise classes along with four hours of cycling as well as prizes. “It got people motivated,” she observed.

Frick is deeply involved with some of the Y’s programming for older adults, leading an Enhance Fitness class specifically designed not only for seniors, but those with chronic conditions such as arthritis as well. She hopes to help expand participation in these classes in the future, as well as the scope of programs the Y offers.

For example, Livestrong is a program designed for those going through stages of cancer; however, according to Frick, “few offer classes when it stops. Chemo destroys the body.” And the longer they continue to exercise, she added, “The longer they benefit.”

Frick is a born motivator who hopes to cultivate those who are, like her, “Y members for life.”