Photos by Denver Atkins and Rodolfo Martinez, News Photography COMM 1316. Featured photo by Denver Atkins.
SPC’s new Aquatic Center opened this semester and already it’s making a splash with students.
We recently found a dozen or so students who traded in the treadmill for a hydro hustle in water aerobics class.
“The idea of water aerobics is aerobics is a lower intensity exercise that can be done in the water primarily for rehabilitation or just for lower impact,” says SPC Aquatic Director Ethan Maples, “for elderly or people who have chronic pain, any sort of things like that.”
He says students in this class learn the basics of water aerobics and how to create their own workouts, modify routines for various clientele (including themselves), and design goal-oriented, targeted workouts.
As a social work major, student Rosemary Soliz says she feels this class will help her in her career.
“I’ve learned how to lead a water aerobics class on my own,” she says, “and that’s really cool, honestly. But I’ve also learned a lot of different things about how water aerobics, like, impacts your joints and muscles and how it’s, like, a lot easier for a lot of people to get into the pool and use the pool instead of, like, working out in a gym.”
Maples says students learn how to use water aerobics equipment in this class too.
While this college-level course is not open to the general public, Maples says a community class is available for all active members including students and local residents.
“They can participate in either a standard water aerobics class or a water arthritis class,” he says.
While this semester’s classes are already underway, a schedule of aquatic center classes appears on the SPC website along with the Aquatic Center membership information.
What’s it like taking a swim class in SPC’s new Aquatic Center?
Rosemary Soliz calls the experience “great”.
“The staff is amazing,” she says. “Like the locker rooms are always so clean. They smell great. And it’s just a fun time.”
Already, Maples says, plenty of students are now using the pool throughout the week.
“Now we have parties constantly,” he says. “Fridays, there’s about 40 to 80 college students out here just having a blast and enjoying it.”
In addition to the regular student activities, Maples says the Aquatic Center will be hosting a movie night soon for students. It promises free food, free entertainment, and a place to hang out.
The event is scheduled for Friday, November 13. The exact time is TBD.
Mark your calendars!
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