Worth the Workout
Baby boomers have made a discovery over the past few years.
The water is their friend.
Senior citizens have taken to the pool as a means of exercise now more than ever before, said Sandy Ihlenfeld, senior physical director at the Butler County Family YMCA.
“The first wave of baby boomers have become senior citizens, and they're taking better care of themselves,” Ihlenfeld said.
“About eight years ago, we had maybe three exercise classes in the pool for seniors. “Now we've got 20 classes, with 25 to 30 participants in each.”
That doesn't include the senior citizens who hit the pool on their own to get in some personal workout time.
Betty Scott of Center Township said, “I swim three days a week, about 600 yards each time. I got started about 42 years ago. After some extreme surgery, I needed to get some exercise.
“Swimming has kept me going, kept me healthy,” she said. “It's good social time, too. It beats sitting home watching soap operas.”
Bethany Johnston, interim aquatics director at the YMCA, said doctors recommend the water as a means of exercise for some elderly patients.
Others come through word of mouth, but the classes keep growing.
“When a class size goes above 25, we have to get a second lifeguard in here because of safety rules,” Johnston said. “That's beginning to happen on a regular basis.
“The buoyancy of the water does wonders for arthritis. Seniors can do jumping jacks in the water because it's easier on the joints.”
Jim Snodgrass, 72, of Butler underwent back surgery two and a half years ago. He tried a number of rehabilitation programs on land, but couldn't shake the pain.
The pool has proved a different story.“After about three weeks, I noticed a difference,” he said. “You can totally stretch out in the water and float. The water relieves the pressure. I felt better immediately.“Besides, the pool is a warm place to come on a cold day.”Mary Kruger, 68, of Renfrew has been taking water exercise classes for six years. She's been battling arthritis.“My body has more flexibility, and I can build up strength in the water,” she said. “On land, I wouldn't try any of the exercises I can do in the pool.”Most senior citizen exercise classes run for about 45 minutes. Some seniors will do two or more classes in a day.Bill Chernosky, 79, began hitting the water six years ago in an attempt to lose weight. He's fallen from 375 pounds to 215.“I walked with a cane before I started coming to the pool and used to have to rest twice while walking from the pool to the locker room,” Chernosky said. “Now I don't need the rest nor the cane.“I have two artificial knees ... I'm not capable of any strenuous exercise on land. In the water, I feel like I can do anything.”Chernosky comes to the pool five days a week.“A bunch of us have gotten to know each other pretty well. We've become friends. The pool is a meeting place,” he said.Bill Rusch, 69, of Butler Township has been coming to the pool for three weeks.He said he has no fear of falling when he's in the water.“You always have your balance and the feeling you can do more physically,” Rusch said.“None of us can walk on water. But we sure do feel better in it.”
