I’ve always tried to avoid the aquacisers, that group of older people who do their aerobic and strength training in the swimming pool five days a week at the health club. In fact, I usually time my own workout to be entering the women’s locker room as they are leaving, all showered and squeaky clean. But last week I decided to try aquacise for myself.
There were about ten of us, and we stood in a line that stretched the length of the pool with the instructor facing us. She handed out noodles, those long flexible foam poles that are the size of a small log. For the next forty-five minutes we walked and jumped from one end of the pool to the other, using our noodle in various ways to create resistance in the water. Some of us inadvertently used the noodle to swat others in the head too.
“Sit on your noodle,” the instructor yelled at one point, “and kick your feet in the air. Now do it backwards.” “Push the noodle through the water in front of you, then pull it back to your chest.” “Tighten those abs.”
As our group weaved back and forth, the force of all this kicking and arm waving tended to create waves and make us look like struggling surfers. Or confused dolphins. But I must admit it was fun. The only problem occurred when the class ended, and we all tried to get to the three showers at the same time. That’s when I remembered why I usually don’t work out at the same time as the aquacisers.
Now here I was, actually joining them and planning to come back next week. What might this say about the stage I’ve gotten to in life? I’m not sure, but as I waited my turn for the shower I noodled on it.
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