A couple of swimmers jump into the deep end calling, “Watch out!” Some climb down the ladder and many take the staircase at the shallow end of the pool. No matter how they enter, the Northshore YMCA pool is filled on Tuesday and Thursday mornings … for that matter, every morning! It’s 9 a.m. and time for swim exercise class under the leadership of Mary Mussman.
Sometimes, there are as many as 40 people, all stretching, jogging and performing ab crunches … so many, that 10 of them decided to work out in the deep end. The “deep-enders” seek to avoid the pounding on their joints and to mend aching lower backs. They perform cross-country skiing, treading water at break-neck speed, all to strengthen quads and “kick butt” to build hamstrings. Arm exercises also work biceps and triceps, grasping foam-ended barbells (some call these dumb bells), which provide resistance in the water. If you grab the barbells with the black handles, white foam with yellow tips, you’re in for a tougher upper-body workout than you planned for.
On top of all this activity, both ends of the pool — and the middle — are engaged in chit chat, as most swimmers have been coming to this class for more than 10 years and have formed lasting friendships. The deep-enders, led by Carol Anderson, searched to find the most appropriate name for their specialty group. They replaced the original name of “Deep Water Waves” with “Jaws,” a name Bothell’s Sylvia Strang felt more fitting.
Yes “Jaws” refers to all the animated yakking that goes on, talking about everything from alternative foods to the hot-fudge sundae (there are none!) to the latest Macy’s sale. One recognized health benefit of swim class? It’s just plain fun.
On the serious side, water exercise provides a cardio vascular workout, muscle strengthening, improvement in posture and flexibility and is a perfect way to recover from injury or surgery. If this sounds like an advertisement for swimming, it is.
And, do you know that Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville, King County, Snohomish County, the Northshore School District and the Northwest Center have met together to discuss funding for the building of an aquatic center in our area? So far, a downtown Bothell site is in the lead.
Imagine a 10-lane competition pool and diving area, a 6,000-square-foot family leisure pool complete with spray features, indoor and outdoor water slides, a river channel to float around on, along with wave action at the press of a button. Or, relax in a 1,000-square-foot warm-water therapy pool (ah, yes!), whirlpool and sauna! We may have to wait for the year 2010 to see construction, but it will be well worth the wait.
In the meantime, stay fit. Walk, lift weights or swim and spend this time wisely, looking for good bathing suit sales for a future grand opening of the Northshore Aquatics Center.
Suzanne G. Beyer is a Bothell resident.
