A Place to Rest and Play
We found Gulay quietly enjoying a cup of coffee in the Y lobby before her workout. When we learned she’d brought along her 4-year-old daughter, Selin, we had to stop by Y-Play and capture the two of them together! According to Mom, two of Selin's favorite things are the movie Moana and getting to play at the Y.
“She loves it here. Every day she says, ‘Mommy, can we go to the YMCA?’”
Gulay and her family are originally from Turkey, but have called Nashville home for nearly 7 years.
“Istanbul is very nice but very crowded, a lot of people. I like Nashville, especially for kids. It’s safe. Everything is good.”
She and her kids come to the Y for exercise and play 3 to 5 times a week. Gulay appreciates having time to herself to work out in so many ways—walking, strength training, dancing. Since she started coming more regularly, she’s lost 10 pounds.
“My life is different,” she says. “My daughter is happy. I work out and I’m happy. My body is healthy.”