Meet YMCA Member: Roger A.

For Roger Anderson, YMCA aqua classes are his happy place. Roger joined the Y in April 2018 at the suggestion of his wife, Anne. He had osteoporosis in his right leg and was looking for ways to stay active and healthy.

“Before joining the Y, I had a workout mat at home and could find videos on YouTube, but I wasn’t doing it,” explained Roger. “The Y, though, it works for me. I lost six pounds last year and eight pounds the year before."

Roger grew up in Missoula in the Grant Creek area. As a teen, he stayed active through intramural sports, fishing and hunting, and by helping his family build their house. Roger then left Missoula for the US Air Force, where he served as a jet mechanic and later as a crew chief on a KC-135. During his time in the Air Force, he spent 18 months in Thailand refueling jets during the Vietnam War.

Today, Roger is an accomplished wood carver, hand carving black cottonwood bark into whimsical critters.

In addition to woodcarving, Roger is dedicated to his workout routine. He can often be found at the Y five days a week to attend Marianne and Kirsten’s aqua classes.

“I’m usually the only guy in class. Sometimes another guy joins, but usually it’s just me,” Roger said with a laugh. “I’ve made great friends in the classes, though. One of the ladies, Shirley, is 84. I aspire to be Shirley.”

“Water resistance is good exercise and I focus on moving as much water as I can during class,” added Roger. “The instructors are great and they teach me new things. Plus, the Y has the greatest greeter in town, Bill!”

“The Y is my happy place,” he said, ending with a smile.