Sometimes, it takes a little challenge to get you going. That happened to Debra Isaacson during the YMCA Chippewa Valley Move Challenge. The Challenge encouraged members to get 150 minutes of physical activity per week for 12 weeks. Debra, who had a successful rehabilitation from two knee replacements, joined Eau Claire South YMCA in May just hoping to maintain her progress. She was still walking with a cane.

Debra started with the pool. Then, the Move Challenge and EGYM took her workouts to next level. Fast.

EGYM equipment was installed at Eau Claire South in early 2025. Since then, more than 1,300 members have been onboarded, with most members averaging workouts two times a week. Members are seeing results that include muscle building, body toning, and weight loss.

“This is the first of its kind to come to the Chippewa Valley,” said Haili Carlson, Member Engagement Director. “It’s quick! You get in, you get out, and you have done a full workout.”

Smart circuit technology provides a personalized, full-body workout that takes 22 minutes, and two laps per session is recommended. The intelligent machines automatically adjust to each individual’s goals for weight, range of motion, and cardiovascular exercise.

According to Taylor Lamon, a personal trainer at EC South, many people using EGYM are new to working out, or may be recuperating from injury or surgery, and more experienced lifters are adding variety to their workouts with EGYM.

“I was happy to see Debra doing EGYM and spending time in the pool,” said Taylor. “You can rotate your EGYM days and water aerobics days to get a combination of aerobic activity and resistance training in your exercise routine."

The other thing that delighted Taylor was that Debra’s husband, George, joined the YMCA and joined his wife on the circuit. The Isaacsons typically workout 4-5 days a week. George, who is recovering from two shoulder replacements, believes he would have recovered faster had he started EGYM immediately after physical therapy.

Debra found the EGYM workout easy to learn and feels motivated by the real-time feedback from the machines.

“It’s working with you,” she said. “You see your progress. You can put it down if it’s too much. It’s controlled but you can control it, too.”

Two months later, Debra no longer required her cane and called EGYM a “huge success.” And instead of waiting in the car for Debra, George is doing four laps around EGYM.

“What a blessing this has been. I’m excited that I was able to get my husband moving, too!” said Debra, expressing her gratitude for the generosity of Kathy and the late Bill Bergman, whose donation made EGYM possible at the Eau Claire South YMCA.