By Mardi Suhs

CADILLAC Donna Moorhead is retiring after teaching water aerobics for 20-plus years.

Since 1994, Moorhead taught at the Cadillac Sands Resort pool three days a week for the Cadillac Senior Center.

Moorhead really didn't want a fuss made over her retirement. And this interview, she said, seemed like we were "making a big deal out of nothing."

"Everybody has their thing, and this happened to be the one I liked the best," she said. "I would go to the pool like anybody I just always did it."

"Donna took this job at 67, when most people are retiring," said Diane Patterson, director of the center. "This is quite a feat in itself. She touched so many lives with positive reinforcement and encouragement. She got folks motivated to get into the pool, and she kept control of the rowdy men in the class."

More than 20 years ago, Moorhead attended water aerobics and filled in when the teacher couldn't make it. When that teacher "moved on to other things," she took over.

"They didn't make a big deal one way or the other," Moorhead said. "She was gone. I was doing it so I continued."

The celebration will take place at the Cadillac Sands Resort at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 20. There will be a BBQ lunch in the tent. If it rains, the party will be held inside. Admission is $10 per person. For more information call 231-779-9420.

Read more from the original source:
Senior center water aerobics instructor retiring

First come the squeals.

The cold pool at the Dowd YMCA in Charlotte feels downright frigid some days.

We always complain about it when we jump in. We warm up quickly when our teacher starts shouting orders. Then we spend the next hour complaining about her.

Army drill sergeants could learn from Allison Lilly, whose deep-water aerobics classes offer a high-intensity workout in a low-impact setting.

Run across the pool as fast as you can, and when you reach the other side, mountain climb back, she yells. You should be out of breath by now you should be dying!

Forget any notion about water aerobics belonging to little old ladies.

This workout challenges tennis players with bum knees, middle-age runners with aching backs and younger fitness buffs looking for a break from pounding pavements, elliptical machines and bikes.

Class takes place in the deep end of the pool. Most people wear a flotation belt, which lets you do all the moves without feeling like youre going to sink.

A few incredibly vigorous types, including Lilly when she jumps in, go beltless.

Lilly structures the class like boot camp in water. We run, bike and cross-country ski, using our bodies as bikes and skis. We jump rope, do jumping jacks and kickbox. We lift weights and struggle through situps. All in the pool.

See more here:
Dowd YMCA water aerobics class is anything but easy