Another way to exercise
By Sue Nelson
Aquatic programs must use water time effectively to meet the needs of the community. In other words, programming needs precede design needs. Communities can keep building “cookie-cutter designs,” then try to figure out how to make them financially sustainable—but it is not recommended. A common programming issue is the water in a pool sitting unused during morning or early-afternoon hours. Guests are waiting to discover the benefits of moving in the water for exercise, and rectangular pools provide the solution. If a pool is properly programmed, the term “prime-time hours” need never be used.
Fifty percent of Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease. One of the best strategies to deal with this problem is targeted exercise. Gravity can be painful for people living with chronic conditions and also diseases that limit flexibility, affect balance, and diminish coordination. Some people give up on their exercise regimens when they are in pain, when they cannot see any progress, or when they feel not supported in making a plan to succeed. With more than 50 percent of adults in the United States not knowing how to swim, being in the water for therapy and for exercise is not for them. The benefits that result from exercising on land or in water are well-established, and yet aquatic facilities are missing out by not using the right words to tell consumers that the water actually is helpful. Water solves the gravity issue. Rectangular pools can be and should be “aquatic health clubs,” “aqua gyms,” or “water gyms.” The facilities tend to market the fun, safe, and competitive aspects of swimming, but fail to elaborate on the options for specific kinds of vertical and horizontal exercise in a pool. It’s time to show community members how to exercise in the water to live a better, more functional life on land.