Everyone knows exercise helps keep us healthy and feeling better, but who wants to exercise in the heat of the summer?

The Wayne County Recreation Department has the perfect solution to beating the heat and getting good exercise at the same time: Giana Edens low-impact aqua aerobics class.

The class is offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Cracker Williams pool. The fee is $3 per class.

The students were enthusiastic following the class last week about the virtues of the program, which is geared for seniors or others with physical limitations but is open to anyone.

Beth Hatton, 80, said, Ive been coming 12 years and its wonderful! It has helped me with my arthritisIve had arthritis since I was about 40in my hip joints. Your buoyancy keeps the weight off of those joints, and youre just so relaxed!

Sally Glass also has arthritis and was advised by her doctors to avoid impact exercise. She says the aqua class is a great help to her.

Eden says the program is an excellent way for anyone to begin an exercise program, especially people who are out of shape or have arthritis, joint replacements or other health issues, following a doctors permission to exercise.

The buoyancy of the water lessens the impact, she said, but the water resistance makes it very good exercise. The emphasis is on building core strength strengthening the abdominals and the back and its very good for the joints.

She explains that the joints get gently exercised with the support of the water as the student is building endurance. Its easier on your body to do 20 minutes of aerobics in the water. Students are able to jog and do jumping jacks and other exercises that would not be possible for them out of the water.

Eden noted that another advantage of the class is that it allows exercising in the water without requiring the ability to swim. A recreation department lifeguard is on duty for the classes, but no swimming is involved.

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Aqua aerobics class provides fun, cool and healthy exercise option