Guleph, ON – The University of Guelph is determined to create the following three things:
- The healthiest campus in Canada
- The most active community in the country
- A place where health and wellness programs can prosper
While the construction of a new Athletics Centre will certainly go a long way in helping to accomplish those goals, it is individuals like
Jaye Graham who truly make that vision a reality on a daily basis. On Thursday, May 7
th at the River Run Centre in Guelph, long time U of G instructor Jaye Graham was named the recipient of the
Guelph Y Women of Distinction Award in the category of Health, Wellness and Recreation.
Jaye Graham is the founder and owner of
H20 Works Canada and has taught aquafit classes for the University of Guelph's Department of Athletics for approximately 25 years. More recently, she has been an integral part in developing the
Special Aqua and Water Therapy programs. "Special Aqua" is a unique specialty program designed for individuals with specific health issues such as Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis, Diabetes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, and more. "Water Therapy" is personal training in the water. Participants work with Jaye one-on-one with a special program that is designed to aid recovery and allow individuals to transition to an independent exercise program and improve quality of life. Water therapy clients include individuals with arthritis, chronic back pain, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, orthopedic conditions, as well as those recovering from a stroke and those preparing for or recovering from hip and knee replacement surgery.
While the focus of the University of Guelph's Special Aqua and Water Therapy program is on enhancing physical well-being, this program is also extremely important in serving the emotional and spiritual well-being of the individuals in this community. And this is 100% because of Jaye. She has been a constant for this group of women who have become very close. They have seen each other through births, illnesses, achievements, and deaths. She has a wonderful rapport with the special aqua group. She is patient, kind, caring and inclusive. They feel welcome, encouraged and they have fun. Jaye, who was also the inaugural recipient of the Department of Athletics Outstanding Service Award in 2013-2014, builds social time into the classes as this is an important aspect for this group. At the same time, she ensures that they are safe and challenged as appropriate.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Jaye is extremely interested and involved in industry education. She is a presenter and educator for the Canadian Aquafitness Leaders Alliance Inc. (CALA) and other fitness conferences. She shares her love and passion for water training in her sessions so that current professionals in the industry can be more proficient. She is also a CALA trainer, certifying individuals to lead aqua classes. She has also most recently started to work with the Kinesiology Department at the University of Guelph on a research study that seeks to understand the effects of water training on women with special conditions.
