Life University Staff Council Newsletter Volume 5 Issue 2 | Page 5

Workout in the Water
By Deidre M DeLoach, BA

About ten years ago, I began looking for an exercise routine that was
advantageous and fun at the same time. Line Dancing, Belly Dancing and
Tai Chi initiated my search for a balance of fun and fitness, all of which
became impossible for me after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis. That is
when I was introduced to water aerobics. I began with a low impact aerobic
routine three times a week. Within two weeks, I felt a significant decrease in
pain and stiffness from arthritis.
The science behind water aerobics is fairly simple. The resistance of the
water acts to support the body’s weight, which reduces the impact on
muscles and joints. This same resistance caused by pushing and pulling
against the water strengthens the body’s muscles and core and increases
endurance. You don’t have to be swimmer to participate, and the classes
are beneficial to children, the elderly and pregnant women. Water aerobics
classes are offered in shallow water as well as deep water. Trained
instructors (certified by the American Red Cross) encourage working at your
own pace, so there is no pressure if you are new to the class or recovering
from a muscle or joint related injury.
Class usually begins with warm up jogging in place. Then, a mixture of
water resistance exercises such as cross country ski motions, frog jumps,
jumping jacks and sidekicks begins
to speed up the heart rate. After 50
minutes of exercises that increase the
heart rate, slowing down the heart rate
with stretches and deep breathing relax
the body. Standing in the lotus position
while stretching the arms and doing deep
breathing is one way of slowing the heart
rate and releases the stress of the day.
Amy Williams is my water aerobics instructor at the South Cobb Aquatics
Center. In addition to having a warm and friendly personality, Amy knows
a plethora of information about how the body benefits from exercising in
water. I had the privilege of talking to her about her career as an aerobics
instructor and some of the benefits that may not be well known.

DEIDRE DELOACH: How many years have you been teaching water
aerobics?

AMY WILLIAMS: Twelve years!
DD: What inspired you to begin teaching water aerobics?
AW: I have always enjoyed swimming and being in the water. After I had

my first child, I started taking water aerobics classes as a participant
because land aerobics hurt my back too much with the extra baby weight
I had gained. Two years later, I was laid off from my job and an opportunity
to teach aqua classes came up, so I jumped on it. It allowed me to teach
classes in the evenings after my husband came home from work. I enjoy
helping folks get in shape, and I have met so many wonderful people and
have created lasting friendships for many years with former and current
students of mine. In fact, after I went back to work, I continued to teach
classes because I enjoy it so much.

DD: How does water aerobics increase core strength and balance?
AW: The resistance of the water pushing against one’s body makes it

more difficult to balance and stay upright while in the water. In order to stay
balanced, the core body muscles must be tight at all times. I constantly
remind my class participants to keep the abdominals in and maintain good
posture in order to maximize the workout. Eventually, it becomes habit, and
they find themselves doing it all the time, not just in the water.

DD: What are some benefits of water aerobics that seem to surprise people?
AW: So many people, even those that are really fit, are surprised at what a

great workout they get. Most think
that water aerobics is for older
people with health issues, but it is
great exercise for everyone. The
resistance of the water tones and
strengthens muscles quickly, while
reducing pressure on the joints
and tendons. It increases flexibility,
improves balance and provides a
good cardio workout at the same time.

DD: What health conditions have
you seen water aerobics help?
AW: I have seen participants with
fibromyalgia become more flexible
and less achy because the water
allows muscles to stretch and move
without causing a lot of swelling and
soreness. I have also seen many
people that have had knee or hip
surgery regain mobility and flexibility

Continued from page 4
What do George Orwell, Lyndon
B Johnson and Benito Mussolini
have in common? They all used
to be schoolteachers.
The largest single school in terms
of pupils is the City Montessori
School in Lucknow, India, which
had a record enrollment of
32,114 pupils for the 2007-2008
academic year.
We add an extra day to the
calendar every four years to
compensate for the fact that
a solar year is almost 6 hours
longer than 365 days.
Artificial turf is becoming an
increasingly popular choice for
athletic field coverings. While
easy to maintain, the rubber used
for shock absorption can cause
field temperatures to climb in
excess of 160 degrees!
A bushel is a unit of measure
equal to four pecks. Each peck is
2 1/3 gallons. A bushel of berries
would be equivalent to about 149
cups!

quickly while working out in the
water – all thanks to the coolness
and buoyancy of the water.

Did you know? Chiclephobia is
the fear of chewing gum.

Most of us have tight schedules
and a variety of responsibilities between work and home. We are adapting
to prioritizing our time by essential responsibilities such as work, children,
social events and life events. As a society, taking care of our physical
and mental well-being very often falls to the bottom of the list. But, I
challenge you to contemplate finding a fun activity that you can participate
in to increase your mental and physical health and think of it as a gift to
yourself. One of the strongest points I have learned about Vitalism is that
it begins with changing my perception of what is important. I have learned
to embrace making time for “taking care of self,” because it will in turn
make me more fruitful in all the other areas of my life. This takes time and
dedication, but the benefits last a lifetime.

According to the Stockholm University College of Physical
Education and Sports Bonus: “People who do pool exercises
enjoy their workouts more than those who stick to dry land, per
research from Baylor University Medical Center.”
If you are a Cobb County resident, you
have access to several aquatic centers
with indoor pool activities. Visit www.
cobbcountyga.gov and click the Aquatics
Link for times and registration information.
Beginner and advanced swimming lessons (for age three to adult) and water
aerobics classes are available daily.

Did You Know?

Source: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5489729_benefits-water- aerobics.html#ixzz2uRfLuRzO

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