PARTICIPANTS OF THE MARIPOSA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION’S AQUA FITNESS PROGRAM ENJOY A CLASS AT THE POOL. GAZETTE PHOTO BY TENAYA BOOKOUT The dreadful thought of working up a sweat in the agonizing heat of a Mariposa County summer sends some headed for the high country, or better yet, the comfort of cool waters.

Now residents no longer have to choose between keeping fit and keeping cool, with the opportunity to get in the pool while working on personal fitness.

Mariposa County Parks and Recreation offers a simple solution to the summertime workout regime. Aqua fitness class is offered twice daily, a morning class beginning at 7 a.m. as well as an evening class held at 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The class offers an aerobic workout while in the pool and lets participants forget the boring, back-and-forth lap swim.

Many individuals are well aware of the aches and pains that accompany the “normal” land workout process. Aerobic exercising in the water offers a fun, alternative, fitness route with an added protection for joints. There are major benefits to aquatic workouts due to the low shock impact provided by the waters buoyancy and resistance.

However, working out in the water does not mean it is any less of a valuable workout. Working out in the water forces the individual to utilize every muscle in the body, meaning he or she actually works harder at burning calories and toning major muscle groups.

Marty Livingston initiated the aqua fitness classes over five years ago, and has now become a seasonal hit for Parks and Recreation. Dedicated since the beginning, a solid group of return participants have brought positive attention, as well as an increase in partakers to the exercise class. April Hawley, Lori Verceles and Janet Kottman are the current, trained instructors who split-teach each of the aqua fitness classes. Each instructor offers their own unique take on leading each class, which overall makes the program more versatile

Each class can range anywhere from 12-20 eager individuals. The class is diverse, with both male and female participants, ranging in age from 20 to 90-years-old. Pregnant women, the elderly or disabled are encouraged to take advantage of the class benefits.

“You are able to get out of it what you put in it. You can maximize every minute you have in the water or allow yourself to maintain a slower movement, whatever your pace may be,” says instructor Hawley.

Verceles was instructing the class and “was eight months pregnant and still attending. It’s the best workout for your body, just movement in general.”

Debbie Johnson, a class regular, said, “It is absolutely outstanding. I’ve had several disabilities, yet this keeps me moving in the pool, even if there is an exercise I cannot fully do, I just keep moving.” This class provides her with a workout that otherwise she would not be able to do.

Barbara Schoulen has experienced a tremendous benefit in just one week declaring, “After just seven days I was already getting

more more use out of my injured left leg.”

Each of the certified instructors have varied daily routines so attendees are never bored. Each work out focuses on different major muscle groups to help develop and maintain cardio-respiratory fitness. A personal class favorite noted was Monday night pilates, in which a core pilates routine takes place in the water.

Prepared with equipment such as underwater dumbbells for toning arms, waist flotation belts used to suspend bodyweight, and the ever-popular noodle used for floating while exercising, the class has every essential for well-rounded water fitness activities.

Water jogging is a main exercise focus in the class, whether it be a warm up, high knee jog or a floating vertical jog, it eliminates any pressure to the leg joints, unlike land jogging. Aside from the increasing the heart rate and burning calories the water pressure and its massaging effect will gives participants a thigh workout they won’t forget.

Some attend the class for weight loss, to lower cholesterol or to lower blood pressure, and have all been attainable results for those who were consistent in maintaining a healthier lifestyle, with the help of aqua fitness. While some attend daily, some participate as an alternative workout, rather than hitting the gym that day.

Although the entire class is practiced in the water, even the beginning stretches, participants do not need to be a swimmer to attend. The majority of the fitness routines are within shallow water just below the chest. Some of the exercises may be able to boost the confidence to wary individuals wanting to improve water skills.

Aqua fitness rates are $3 dollars per onehour session or $20 for an eight-class pass. Classes run through the beginning of May until the end of September. For more information call 966-2498.