Imagine that you need some exercise but find the weight room at the gym, with the buff ladies and the hulking men, intimidating. Sometimes, it is just the need to be healthy and know that one is taking care of “body business.”
Many find water aerobics is an answer that helps them take care of business. Water is kind to the joints and helps participants build a strong core and is an exercise many find easy to do.
The Water Aerobics group at the Chester YMCA has a team of professionals that have dedicated their time and energy to years of learning about the fitness of water. They can tell you how to work it in the water, how much an hour-long session burns in calories, and what the benefits to water exercises are versus land.
And, they did not learn overnight either. Combined the group of five instructors has more than 65 years of experience teaching and sharing water fitness. They know just what it means to take care of business and they’ve dedicated themselves to it. These teachers can spout out the benefits in seconds because they have lived it for many years.
Amazing fact is that not one of these professionals is a full-time employee of the Y. They have all worked as part-time employees for many years learning their craft and sharing their skills.
One instructor has been with the Y for more than 25 years and started the year after the Chester Y opened back in 1990. Sherri Snelson teaches morning classes at 8 and 9 a.m. each week day and generally has about 20 to 35 participants each day.
Snelson says she started out as a participant, as most of the instructors did. “I was in that very first class,” she explained. “I started as a sub after the first year and I’ve been teaching now for 25 years.” She has trained most of the people in the program and mentored many others.
“I still have the passion for the benefits that are provided by taking a water aerobics class,” she said. “I know the water keeps us going as we age and I call water fitness the WD-40 for our body.”
Dale Bounconsiglio began teaching water fitness classes 20 years ago and is a nurse. She teaches arthritis classes and Just My Speed, a gentle and slow approach, several times a day and several days a week.
Bounconsiglio said, “I moved here from the North and I was walking with a cane after a long illness.” She found the Y and never looked back. “With the help of the instructors I recovered and threw away my cane,” she explained. “I am a believer in the Y’s mission and I try to help members experience the same thing.”
She is a believer in the water’s healing powers. “I work hard to blend the social and physical aspects of water fitness and when it comes together it’s a wonderful experience,” she explained.
Many participants come to water fitness with arthritis and problems in joints and bones and they see themselves move around more freely in the water. They love to see them feeling good with water fitness.
Tina Holmes started as a sub at night about five years ago. She finds the program rewarding for her. “They come to my class after working all day, after workouts, and even after a root canal,” she said. “I have learned so much from each of them and enjoy teaching at the Y.” For Holmes, she finds joy in the helping and encouraging others.
Lynne Holicky is the new kid on the block who just started teaching water fitness at night this year. She enjoys water aerobics because it provides excellent cardio, strengthening and flexibility. “I’ve been in water since a very early age,” she stated. “So all this comes very naturally.” She has over the years worked with swim lessons and other swim sports at the Y.
Water fitness s is shown to alleviate chronic illnesses and improve overall health. Sometimes water fitness is considered a low-impact workout program. Yet, really water fitness comes in a variety of formats including step, Zumba, kickboxing, tai chi, H2O Pump, arthritis, yoga and many other specialty programs.
Exercising in water makes participants feel lighter and the body experiences less impact from the water so it is ideal for those with back problems, foot and leg injuries and knee conditions. For those who feel intimidated on land exercises, the moves are performed under water so are less visible.
Water fitness participants can expect to burn between 400 to 500 calories per hour depending on size and intensity. Bounconsiglio credits it with her recovery and both Hollicky credits water fitness with being her way of losing weight.
“My rewards are fitness and the pleasure of sharing with members as they achieve their goals,” Bounconsiglio said.
Snelson shared that she has some people in her class that started with her back in 1990. She feels the biggest endorsement for water fitness is that they are there. “They came with me in 1990 and they are still here.”
The Chester YMCA offers a wide variety of options. This fall they plan to offer Water Tai Chi and Make a Splash, for special need participants. More information can be found about the times and classes at http://www.ymcarichmond.org/schedules/branch-schedules/ and then choose the Chester location. The Chester Y can be reached at (804) 748-9622. They offer morning classes starting at 8 a.m. and running until midday each day. They offer night classes at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with well qualified instructors — 65 years qualified, in fact.
Melissa Wilfong has been a night instructor for water fitness for 15 years and loves just how it makes her feel. She was a sub for another night instructor and said she has never found anything else that makes her feel as good as the properties of water. She said she enjoys helping the members find their place with exercise and seeing them enjoy what they can do in the water.
