Fitness classes keep older adults active
On any Tuesday morning between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the swimming pool at Murphy Park rings with laughter and music. Last Tuesday around 10 a.m., dozens of excited, life-jacketed children from local daycare centers splashed in the wading pool while a long line of pre-teens waited to take a swim test and prove they could safely play without a vest. Meanwhile 40 adults bounced to the beat of a fitness soundtrack as they followed the instructor’s moves in a water aerobics class.
“This event is great because everybody here is going to be laughing all the way through it,” said Gary Brock, who attends the water aerobics classes regularly with wife Susan.
“Senior citizens don’t exercise nearly as much as we should.
We have a great instructor. She makes it fun and she’s very knowledgeable about what we can do in the water.”
Taylor started its water aerobics program at Doris Roznovak Aquatic Center, 1600 Veteran’s Drive, last year with two sessions a week held during the pool’s open hours. This year, the city expanded to three days a week and scheduled the classes before the pool opens to the public.
Fitness instructor April Green said the program is growing in popularity, with new faces at every class. While the sessions are open to all ages, water aerobics is specifically popular among older residents.
“It’s very good on your joints.
If you’ve had any back surgery, knee surgery, upper body replacements, shoulders, this can help with your fitness,” Green said.
“There’s no pounding. Everything is just movement in the water.
If you’re moving you’re burning calories.”
Two of the newcomers at Tuesday’s session were Rebecca Dove-Byrd, a private care giver, and her client Linda McLain, age 87. Dove-Byrd said she found out about the sessions on the parks department social media page.
She was interested in the water aerobics class because there aren’t many safe exercise options for older people with balance and age-related mobility issues.
“We both enjoyed the class. It’s good to just get in and move even if you don’t follow what they’re doing. It’s a great opportunity to get her out there. She likes to be active,” Dove-Byrd said.
She added that her client enjoyed the session so much that they will be attending every week.
Parks and Recreation Superintendent Betsy Schultz said that, ultimately, the city’s goal is to be able to offer programs to all segments of the population.
“Youth is a huge focus, but we definitely need to be able to offer things to our other folks, adults and seniors as well,” Schultz said. “We are looking to offer some evening swim aerobics. Once we get the track redone at Memorial Field, we’d like to offer a senior walking club where people can meet up and walk laps and just kind of create a sense of community doing that.”
Schultz said that once the new budget is established the parks department will be talking to senior fitness participants to see what other activities they would be interested in.
The city offers different fitness activities seasonally. In addition to the thrice-weekly water aerobics classes, the parks department is hosting senior croquet, Zumba, pilates, yoga, drum fit, senior fit, boot camp fitness and volleyball during summer months. Most sessions cost $5 though some are free and a discount card is available. For more information visit the city’s website, taylortx. gov/1172/adult-fitness-classes.
