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Gila Community College Wellness Center |
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Water, Water Everywhere… By Ralph Miller At first, I thought my job’s easy this week…I’ll just mention ‘water aerobics’ and you’ll be on the phone in seconds calling the college to enroll, right? You don’t need any additional information…c’mon, it’s water aerobics! You know you’ll love it. Any information I provide would just be superfluous. Of course, then I thought…I could be wrong. Maybe you need some encouragement. Well…if that’s the case, take a look at the rest of this article. It may convince you that water aerobics is just what you need to make it through the summer. If your mind’s made up though…call 425-8481 and join water aerobics starting May 30th! First off, you don’t have to know how to swim to do water aerobics. It’s done in the shallow end, and if you’re really concerned, a flotation device will help you feel secure. With that out of the way, now we can get serious… Many people don’t exercise because their body isn’t up for the stress of land-based exercise. If this is true for you, water is the perfect medium for exercise. Why? Because the buoyancy of the water gives you all the benefits of regular exercise while reducing the amount of stress on your joints by up to 90%. Now, if you really need more reasons to join, keep reading. But there’s really no need. Just go pick up the phone. Okay, you’re still reading, so here’s another reason why exercising in the water is a great choice for the summer. Not only does the water provide less stress on your joints, but it provides 12 times more resistance than air. So you’re going to get stronger, without all the stress. And as you move your entire body in the water, every muscle and joint gets exercised at the same time. This burns a lot of calories, which helps you shed weight. And it increases your heart rate, which is the most beneficial part of exercise, because it improves your heart and lung function. Which consequently, you can’t live without. In fact, improved heart and lung function is responsible for preventing the number one killer in American—heart disease. All you have to do is join the water aerobics class, and imagine all the great things that will come from it. Are you still waiting to pick up the phone? Okay, I’m going to be candid with you. There’s just one thing I can think of that you might not like about the class. Summer semester is only 8 weeks long, and because I know you’re going to love water aerobics, it’s going to be hard to kick the habit after you’ve gotten into it. The good news is: it’s more than enough time to see many benefits from consistent participation in the class. And who knows, you might feel so great after 8 weeks that you’ll want to continue feeling good by joining the Wellness Center, Tai Chi, Pilates or Yoga in the Fall. I hope you find something fun and exciting to do for your well-being this summer through Gila Community College. Maybe water aerobics is just that something. If not, check out all our classes online at www.gilaccc.org or call us at 425-8481. Until next time, may all be well. (Copyright © 2006 Ralph Miller. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and specializes in mind/body wellness. Information in this article is intended for informational or educational purposes only. Consult your health care practitioner regarding the treatment of any symptoms or medical conditions.) |