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Women pick up energy, friends during workouts in Ursuline Center pool
Exercising in water buoys the spirit and boosts flexibility. Just ask the women who participate in the water aerobics sessions in the Ursuline Center pool in Canfield.
A recent visit to the classes found 14 women in what’s called “the morning stretch session” at 8:30, followed by about 20 women in water aerobics. Kristin Miller, instructor, led the women through exercise routines in the shallow end.
The pool room, where the water and air temperatures are a balmy 88 degrees, has been a stark contrast to the snow-covered grounds at the center and the frigid conditions the Mahoning Valley has endured. Although weather conditions have been a deterrent at times, the women are mostly faithful in attendance as they turn out for the morning sessions.
Why? The consensus is that the sessions are invigorating and a wonderful start to the day.
“Many of the women have arthritis,” Miller said. “The water offers more resistance but it isn’t as hard on the joints as exercise on land.”
She also noted some participants have had knee and hip replacements and the exercise in water is beneficial to them.
“It energizes me,” said Vera Gabrick of Youngstown, who has participated nearly five years and has a hip replacement. “It loosens you up, and it’s a good start to the day.”
Gen Malenic of Boardman has been coming to the program for some 14 years. “It’s really helped keep me stay limber,” she said.
Alice Schrieber of Canfield agreed. “I had a knee replacement and this makes it easier to exercise,” she said.
“This keeps me moving,” said Dorothy Adams of Youngstown, who noted she has attended for nine years. “This helps you stay flexible.”
Miller has been teaching the classes about four months, taking over after a longtime instructor relocated out of the area. She and the other instructors are certified. Miller said she became a certified instructor through the YMCA in Boardman, and is a water fitness instructor and lifeguard.
Miller said she bases the morning stretch and water aerobics exercises on the YMCA program. “There are five basic movements — walking, jogging, kicking, jumping and scissoring,” she said. For scissoring, think Jumping Jack with leg movement front to back, not side to side.
“I put the movements together into routines,” Miller said. “It’s a cardiovascular workout.”
She explained that variations of the basic movements help improve muscle tone, flexibility, strength and balance. “This helps people continue to be able to perform basic daily tasks,” she said. For those with arthritis and knee and hip replacements, she said, the exercises in water helps them reclaim movement that they might have lost.
There’s a side benefit as well: The women, who range in age from 40 to 90-something, have made new friends, Miller said.
Delores Jones of Youngstown said she started participating after recovering from hip surgery. “It’s fun and it keeps me moving.”
Marcella DePinto, also of Youngstown, said her arthritis brought her to the program in which she’s participated for about six years. “I think it’s the buoyancy of the water. It’s helped me get movement back.”
Arthritis also was the motive for Marion Brown of Youngstown, who guessed she’d come to the program for 16-18 years. “My arthritis was so bad. This helps keep me limber.”
Caroline Catsoules of Boardman noted she liked the exercise in water because “it’s not hard on the knees.”
Patti Griffin of Austintown, who said she was a walker, noted that the pool exercises were good during the winter when heavy snow made walking treacherous. “This is a wonderful exercise,” she said.
Jean Stryffeler of Canfield endorsed exercise in the warm water. “It feels great.”
Bonnie Emerick of Canfield said exercise wasn’t as difficult in the water, and Rose Hierro of Boardman, who has come for about six years, said she feels better because of the class.
“It gets me going and out of the house,” said Mary Alice Bradshaw, who has come for some 10 years.
Nancy Rosko of Canfield, another 10-year participant, summed it up with: “I think this helps keep you young and gives you energy. It’s helped me.”
linonis@vindy.com