November 30, 2001

MGH employee Marsha Kartzman did not have a fitness regimen one year ago. A lab manager for MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Kartzman had a busy work schedule. She also was a longtime smoker. "Other than walking, I had never really exercised before," she explains.

Although Kartzman had heard about The Clubs at Charles River Park – the full-service health club that was acquired by the MGH this summer – she put off going until a friend coaxed her into swimming there last year. Later, after recovering from a surgical procedure, Kartzman was inspired to quit smoking – and to start taking her health more seriously.

The transformation was completed when one of Kartzman's nephews noted her enthusiasm about swimming and urged her to start an exercise program. He then surprised Kartzman by giving her a much-appreciated Christmas gift: five personal training sessions with Kate Brill-Daley, general manager of the club.

Kartzman recalls her first training session: "I was practically in tears at first. It was very overwhelming. I didn't know how to use any of the machines at all. But Kate was so supportive. She made me feel really positive, and above all, she made me feel like she cared and understood what I was going through."

Brill-Daley worked with Kartzman over the course of several months, checking in on her progress and helping her to develop a regular routine. To her surprise and delight, Kartzman found that exercising became not only something she was good at but also something she looked forward to.

"Going to the club really became psychologically important to me," she says. "Everyone there is so friendly and encouraging." She combines one-hour workouts on the bicycle and other low-impact machines with laps in the pool once or twice a week. Kartzman says that swimming is still her favorite part of getting fit: "It's very peaceful and relaxing, and now I can swim for 35 minutes at a time."

Kartzman emphasizes that working out is about much more than losing weight. "It's all about being in better shape," she advises. "As soon as you start exercising and doing good things for your body, you want to be healthy and not eat junk food. You can come here in a bad mood and leave feeling like a different person. I like the person I am at the club. It has become my second home."

For more information about The Clubs at Charles River Park, call (617) 726-2900 or visit http://is.partners.org/healthclub.