‘Tough mothers’ find strength, community and balance at Cranberry Township YMCA class
In a corner of a spacious gym at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township, a unique scene unfolds twice weekly.
The room buzzes with special energy as moms of all ages execute burpees and other combinations of weight-assisted cardio exercises. Meanwhile, their little ones scoot around on toys, attempt miniature workouts with one-pound weights or engage in impromptu games with their peers. This is Tough Mothers, a program that instructor Chelsea Faust affectionately describes as “controlled chaos.”
Launched in 2015, Tough Mothers remains exclusive to the Cranberry Township location of the YMCA. Its popularity occasionally draws participants from other nearby YMCA branches due to its distinctive approach. The program addresses a significant barrier many mothers face when trying to maintain fitness routines: childcare.
“Some kids don’t like going into the childcare facility,” said Faust, who became a certified instructor for the program two years ago after participating in it as a new mom. “Some kids prefer the activity of being in there with their moms. It’s an extended free-for-all. I keep an eye on everyone to make sure no one is getting hurt, but it’s kid-driven and fun for them.”
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Erica Vucelich stretches with the help of her daughter Verah Vucelich, 2, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Lori Boyle works out with sons Lucas, 3, and Ethan, 6, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Capri Vucelich, 4, brings a dumbbell to her mat during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Capri Vucelich, 4, works out with a dumbbell during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Erica Vucelich does push-ups with her daughter Verah Vucelich, 2, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Lara Davies does sit ups with her son Dashyl Davies, 10 months, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Lara Davies keeps an eye on her son Dashyl Davies, 10 months, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Dashyl Davies, 10 months, watches his mom, Lara Davies, workout during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Erica Vucelich stretches with the help of her daughter Verah Vucelich, 2, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Dashyl Davies, 10 months, watches his mom, Lara Davies, workout during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Dashyl Davies, 10 months, smiles while his mom Lara Davies works out in the foreground during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Lara Davies keeps an eye on her son Dashyl Davies, 10 months, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Erica Vucelich watches her daughter Capri Vucelich, 4, try her hand at the workout during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Erica Vucelich does push-ups with her daughter Verah Vucelich, 2, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Erica Vucelich stretches with the help of her daughter Verah Vucelich, 2, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Dashyl Davies, 10 months, smiles while his mom Lara Davies works out in the foreground during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Erica Vucelich watches her daughter Capri Vucelich, 4, try her hand at the workout during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Lara Davies does sit ups with her son Dashyl Davies, 10 months, during a Tough Mothers workout class at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry Township on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
For mothers like Kelley Angelberger, a Cranberry Township resident with five children ages 3 to 13, the program has been life-changing. She’s attended the class for nine years.
“Having babies and young children, it was an opportunity for me to work out with my kids,” she said.
She said her 3-year-old son loves the experience so much that every morning he asks if it's “gym class day” so he can work out.
While the physical benefits are obvious, participants and instructors alike emphasize that Tough Mothers delivers much more than just a workout.
“It's more the ease of not feeling intimidated while you get that workout in. It's more of a judgment-free zone,” Faust explains.
The class structure accommodates the unpredictability of parenting, allowing mothers to pause their exercises when their children need attention without feeling like they've missed crucial instructions.
For Lori Boyle, who moved to Cranberry Township in July 2024 and started attending Tough Mothers in September, the class offered an immediate community connection.
“It gives me time to work on myself. But I also get to see them playing, and they can come to me if they need anything,” Boyle shared about her three children, ages 3 through 9.
Angelberger said it was a great way to build her “mom community.” The friendships she’s made often extend beyond the gymnasium walls, creating support networks that last even after some members stop attending the class, she said.
Some of the participants emphasized the importance of demonstrating healthy behaviors to their children.
Faust, who notes that most class participants are in their 40s, observes that “kids do look up to their parents, their moms. It benefits them and they're likely going to want to live a healthier lifestyle.”
The sight of children picking up tiny weights to mimic their mothers' exercises embodies this influence in action.
“One of the biggest benefits is setting the example for my kids that exercise and self-care are important,” says Boyle.
For many participants, the Tuesday and Thursday hour-long classes represent crucial anchors in hectic schedules dominated by their childrens’ activities and needs.
“As a busy mom of five kids who spends most of her time managing five kids’ schedules, the class is my respite and one of the ways I engage in self-care,” Angelberger said. “I know I'm going to get to exercise and socialize, which is so important for my mental and physical well-being.”
The class format reflects this balance between structure and flexibility. Faust designs workouts incorporating full cardio with weights in a boot-camp style, while remaining responsive to participants’ preferences. With a laugh, she admits she limits burpees because the mothers particularly dislike them.
The side chatter during workouts is about more than socialization.
“We all have weird things going on with our kids. It does help in those situations because we can compare notes,” says Faust.
These conversations create spaces where mothers can validate each others’ experiences and share solutions to common parenting challenges.
With five regular participants and several others who attend when schedules allow, the program has developed a core community while remaining accessible to newcomers.
Nonmembers can try the class three times per calendar year without a pass, or purchase day passes for additional visits.
This Mother's Day, as communities celebrate the countless contributions mothers make, programs like Tough Mothers highlight an essential truth: supporting mothers’ well-being benefits entire families. The YMCA created a space where mothers can simultaneously attend to their physical health and their children’s needs, exemplifying how institutions can help mothers find balance in their multifaceted roles.
For those interested in joining, the Tough Mothers class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
