While I was helping a woman purchase tickets to our noon hour Aquafit class, she explained to me how 8 years ago she suffered a terrible fall. She broke numerous ribs, her hip and was immobilized for six weeks. In that six weeks she explains, “I lost everything”. She lost her mobility, her balance, ability to do the activities she loves and simple tasks like walking up stairs. After six weeks, she would try to walk but would wobble and naturally favour one side of her body which only created more pain and mobility discomfort. She wanted to remain nameless, but she gladly shared her recovery story.
She tried many types of gym programs and rehabilitation exercises but decided in September to join Aquafit. She continued to walk every day, but she said she never misses her two sessions of Aquafit each week. By the time December rolled around she was a renewed woman. She completely credits her recovery to Aquafit classes and the waters ability to keep her moving, flexing her hips which helped reduce her back pain, and day by day she improved.
“Aquafit works everything in the body, and helps your brain. When instructor Shawn Landriault says, ‘Turn right’, you have to listen, process and make that movement.” The improvements are so significant she says, “I’m riding my bike again all over town. My balance is back!”
She continues, “Shawn is so personable. He is so kind. He is there helping us and it means so much. He really cares. When I improved so much that I could walk up the stairs, I couldn’t wait to share my news with him!”
“I know it sounds like a miracle story, but it’s not – I worked for it” she exclaims. Her success was in her commitment to improving and to never stop moving. She proudly explained how she used increasingly heavy weights in the water as she progressed.
“I’m not going to give up. My body is toning up. I’m not losing weight but all my clothes are baggy on me now. I’m mobile and comfortable walking and cycling!”
At 70 years old, this is one empowered, happy lady on the go, who is committed to an active lifestyle. She worked hard to get her mobility back and she hasn’t fallen down since. Nothing can keep her down!
The benefits of Aquafit are well known: from weight management, helping to lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, while improving strength, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility and coordination. For arthritic pain or muscular discomfort, being in an active non-weight bearing environment combined with the massaging effect of water makes Aquafit an ideal total body workout while being soothing and therapeutic to boot.
Thank you to our Summerland Recreation instructors, like Shawn Landriault who are making a positive impact on our community!
Aquafit classes are available during the summer for drop in 12:05pm – 1:00pm at Health Club Rates on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Deep Water Exercise for 50+ is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:35am – 8:30am for $5.00 drop in or 10-sessions for $40.00. Classes run until the last week of August.
Our full range of Aquafit classes will resume in September.
Joanne Malar is program coordinator at the District of Summerland Recreation Centre.
