[by Phyllis Shaikun]
Did you know that the Jewish Community Center offers more than 18 Aqua Fitness classes each week? In fact, there’s even a new Aqua Boot Camp that meets on Saturdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30.
“We’re just starting that class,” says Aquatics Director Liz Stumper “and Beth Mans is an awesome instructor. It used to be that seniors were primarily the ones in the pool for classes, but this program is co-ed and attracts a younger demographic.” She notes the boot camp concept can be modified for all ages, as can all of the JCC’s aquatics offerings.
The Center offers shallow and deep water conditioning, pre- and post-natal fitness and water Pilates (low-impact strength training that also strengthens flexibility). Classes average 12 people and the Sunday deep water exercise attracts about 17. Enrollment in all classes has been steady.
Some interesting classes are being offered this summer, including Aqua Zumba – dancing in the pool with teacher Wendy Winger. There are seven multi-talented instructors in the program.
The indoor pool, which has new grouting at the shallow end and on the walls, is now ADA compliant with chairs that allow those with disabilities to get into the pool unassisted. Lucky preschoolers at the JCC get to use the indoor pool on Wednesday mornings when they take Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy lessons as part of their program.
Stumper reports that the outside lap pool was opened for the summer on the 15th of April and the regular pool will open on Memorial Day with a holiday picnic at the pool – bring your own meal as it is the second day of Shavuot and no food will be sold that day.
Safety (especially children’s safety) in the water is the primary concern at the JCC, which is why the Krayzelburg program was adopted last year. Stumper flew out to Los Angeles to view the swim academy concept and returned home impressed.
“Children are taught to swim on their back,” she explained, “which is the most energy-saving method for them.” They learn the four basic strokes progressively with the goal of getting them to be water-safe and able to save themselves.
The Krayzelburg method has been successful for children as young as two months of age through adults. Classes for levels one though four are limited to four children each. Two children at the JCC have graduated from the program, which uses a sticker book to mark successive levels. Children have color-coded swim caps to distinguish the various levels, which go up to level six, which prepares students for swim team competition. The program is flexible and allows children to progress to the next level at any time.
There are also opportunities for moms and children to work together at various levels and evaluations, and monitoring of all swim-related activities is frequent. Feedback has been positive and has resulted in quite a number of referrals from the community. The program, which currently has 100 children signed-up, is open to members and non-members on an ongoing basis. New classes can be added at any time as needs arise. The registration fee includes a swimsuit from the Krayzelburg swim shop and written materials.
Lenny Krayzelburg, the Olympic gold-medal winning swimmer, will be in Louisville on Sunday and Monday, April 29 and 30. On Monday, he will be working with preschoolers at 10 a.m., and the community is welcome to watch. He will also be available to talk with people from 1-3 p.m. that day in the Patio Gallery.
If you would like more information about the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy and/or the aquatics opportunities at the JCC or more information about meeting Krayzelburg, please call Liz Stumper at 238-2742.