Celebratory crowd gathers to mark half-century of service, see exercise space renamed after longtime instructor

By Julia Sommer for Ashland.news

Mary Bergstrom recently completed 50 years as an aerobics instructor and more at the Ashland Family YMCA. About 100 of her student fans and spouses came to pay their respects on Sunday, Feb. 1, at a festive party in her honor in Studio 1 — recently renamed Bergstrom Studio 1 — the very large classroom where she teaches low impact aerobics from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

She has a devoted following, averaging 60 students per class, plus a dozen or so on Zoom from as far away as Spain. Studio 2 has been re-named Bergstrom Studio 2.

Bergstrom started coming to the Y in 1974 when her second child was eight weeks old.

“The Moms Morning Out class was the only fitness class the Y offered then,” she recalls. “It was so wonderful, moms with babies, very traditional. It was a great way to get to know other people.” The Bergstrom family had recently relocated to Ashland from the Bay Area.

In 1975 Bergstrom taught the Ashland Y’s Way to Fitness class, the first official aerobics class in Ashland, after being trained at a YMCA camp in Santa Cruz. Over the years, her aerobics classes have been called Starting Over, Keeping Fit, High Impact, and now, Low-Impact. It includes weights and sit-ups.

“We all got older,” she said wryly. Many of her students have been coming for years. It’s a very loyal crowd. “How can I think of quitting?” she asks.

At 97, Barb Marsh, mother of state Rep. Pam Marsh, has been attending Bergstrom’s class for 30 years. “We hope she continues,” said Barb Marsh. “She’s such a caring person; we all love her.”

Rep. Marsh spoke at the Feb. 1 party, commenting: “We talk a lot about the concept of community. We know that communities are stronger, are more able to thrive and to weather change or difficult times when people feel connected. Here today, there is no mystery about that.

“Mary has been teaching classes, including creating routines, choosing music, and wrangling technology, especially during a pandemic, for 50 years. But all that time, what she’s really been doing is building community. Her classes are places where people know they will see each other, perhaps speak with each other, maybe become friends. Her classes fuel health and wellness, but the social connection of a place where you are known — that’s the solid gold.”

During COVID-19, Bergstrom taught from home on Zoom, averaging about 80 students/class.

In the 1980s, Bergstrom taught both morning and afternoon aerobics and was director of youth sports and adult fitness. Her daughter was a soccer coach; her son helped with gymnastics and summer soccer camp. She supervised children’s basketball, volleyball, and flag football teams — even refereed. For a while, Bergstrom taught aerobics with weights at 6 a.m., then took her kids to school, then returned to teach 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. aerobics classes.

Before the current Y opened in 1990 — its first dedicated site in Ashland — Bergstrom taught at the Community Center, the Historic Ashland Armory, Walker Elementary School, and various locations on Ashland Street, including Napa Auto Parts.

“We were all over the place,” she recalls.

Bergstrom also created the first weight room at the Y, finding used equipment and making weights herself.

“We needed a weight room so men would be inclined to come,” she said. Her husband helped create the space (he owned Sawyer wooden oars and paddles in Talent). “Within three months, it wasn’t big enough,” recalls Bergstrom.

Asked how long she’s going to keep teaching, Bergstrom said, “I’ll keep going until I can’t.” She’s had back surgery and two hip replacements.

She still uses her cassette tapes for music, playing everything from Latin, big band, and country to hits from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s.

Kathy Roselli of Bergstrom’s class said: “I decided to check out the Y last year and planned to attend a variety of classes. Mary’s class was the first I went to and I never checked out another. Perfect combo of aerobics, weights and stretching set to fun music. The class is filled with folks who have been attending three times a week for years — now I am one of the committed!”

Gina Galardi, the Y’s Health & Wellness Director, is Bergstrom’s supervisor. “She’s an inspiration, for sure,” said Galardi. “When Mary’s here, it feels like everything’s well with the world. I’ve told her she has to give me five years notice of her retirement. It’s going to be hard to fill those shoes!”

Joy Dutson, 87, has been attending Bergstrom’s MWF class for a record 47 years. “I’ll go as long as she’s here,” she said.

Lisa Molnar, who retired in 2022 after serving 33 years as the Y’s Executive Director, said: “Mary is an incredible person to work with and be friends with, an inspiration. Her legacy here is so significant, she has touched the lives of thousands of people.”

“I want to thank all the directors, past and present, at the Y,” said Bergstrom. “They made such a difference in my self-confidence. I was incredibly lucky to have come into the Y when I did. People encouraged me to try new things.

“Just to be clear … I’m not retiring.”

Email freelance writer Julia Sommer of Ashland at [email protected].