Vicky Smith
Student Life Editor
@pinkwritinglady
The beach is beckoning, but Aggies can start swimming today – on campus. At 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and noon on Thursdays, fitness coach Susan May leads the Deep Water Aerobics class for Cameron students, faculty and alumni in the Aggie Rec Center pool.
The class debuted this semester and is free of charge to all who attend Cameron, as well as those who purchase a gym membership through the CU Alumni Association.
May said water aerobics is a low-impact exercise that enables people of all ages to have fun and be active without joint pain.
“For those people who don’t like that workout on land,” she said, “they can get in the water … We go from bicycling down the pool to cross country skiing to jumping jacks.”
May said participants can use flotation belts, kickboards and noodles; they may bring the devices in for play or to make themselves feel more comfortable in the water.
“You do not have to know how to swim because you are held up by this flotation belt,” May said, “so you don’t have the fear, but you can still participate in the class.”
According to May, water aerobics benefits both the physical and mental health of people in various ways. She said because the exercise is low-impact, it helps those who are injured or who have a chronic disease, such as arthritis.
“It gives them resistance to work out,” she said “but it’s easier on the joints, so it’s not going to increase their pain; it’s going to be able to hopefully decrease it to some extent and still give them strength and flexibility.”
The exercise is also an option for those with type 2 diabetes.
“[There is] less risk from complications,” she said. “Blood sugar levels improve with aerobic activity.”
Although water aerobics is for all ages, she said it could be especially beneficial to older individuals.
“[It] improves quality of life and can ease the decreasing of disability,” she said, “[and it] improves or maintains bone health of post-menopause women.”
One of May’s favorite aspects of teaching water aerobics relates to its mental health benefits.
“When a person completes a class,” she said, “overall, they feel good … Water can be soothing [and] de-stresses, so they’ve been able to quiet their minds in a way – have fun. [I am] able to see that demonstrated on their face because the expression tells everything, and it’s that feedback at the end of class -that you helped somebody. They did things they never thought they could do, and that’s rewarding.”
For those nervous to give water aerobics a try, May said they have nothing to lose.
“I’ll coach you through the class,” she said. “I give modifications where needed, so if you think you’re at one level, I’ve always discovered in all my years of teaching that everyone can do much more than they think they can.”
She said some people even exercise better in groups than solo.
“You have motivation,” May said, “and you have the group energy, so [that] kind of spurs you on.”
The water aerobics class will continue weekly through April 27, and May encourages all people to attend.
“This is a beautiful pool,” she said. “Let’s utilize it.”
In addition to water aerobics, May leads a spin class and a yoga class. For more information about May’s fitness classes, visit Cameron.edu or call the Aggie Rec Center at 580-581-5555.