Sue Asher has been helping the senior citizens in town keep fit for the past 26 years by leading summer weekly aqua aerobics classes at Cooper Pool.

"Once again we are back doing the aqua aerobics with my senior family," she said. "We have 20 ladies and several ladies have medical conditions that usually attend the class but cant this year. Class starts at 10:45 but between 10:30 and 10:45 we catch up on things that are happening in the town, happening with the senior citizens and it is our social time. Then we do our exercises and work hard," said Ms. Asher.

Ms. Asher and her group meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays for eight weeks from 10:30 a.m. to noon. They work on strengthening their arms, legs and body muscles while in the water. The ladies start by getting used to the water, bobbing up and down, do cross country, rocking forward and backwards, and exercises on the wall with their legs, arms and with bar bells. More exercises include kicking with the knees straight and toes pointed, bicycling, arm circles and shoulder rolls.

The program remains the same starting at the feet and working the way up their body.

According to Ms. Asher, aqua aerobics is a great way to loosen up the joints and bones. The water helps with the tension and the exercises give the ladies the opportunity to socialize a bit as well as exercise and work every part of their body legs to neck to keep toned and avoid joint and arthritis problems.

The maximum number of participants in the program is 24 and this year she has 20 ages 56 to 80-plus. Some of the participants have been with Ms. Asher for 25 years. The Cooper pool is heated to 85 degrees during the lessons.

"We are fortunate enough to get a grant from Wal-Mart to provide the refreshments which are orange juice, apple juice and water for each of their sessions," she said.

This years end of classes is fast approaching. "We are ending the program on Aug. 21, which is eight full weeks. I would love to do it longer but unfortunately I need to get into school and prepare for the next school year."

She is hoping that maybe in the future the town would consider building an indoor swimming pool.

"It would be wonderful because, not only can we exercise eight weeks in the summer, we can also exercise all year around. So that will definitely be a goal of mine for the future to have a community/senior center with a built-in swimming pool."

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MANVILLE: Susan Asher gets seniors in the swim