I took my first water exercise class today! I belong to both Curves and our local fitness facility. I went to Curves first, then ran an errand, then got to the fitness facility in time to take the Aqua Arthritis class. I have fibromyalgia and just had knee surgery and my doctor had suggested several times that I should do some water exercising, so I finally did! Even though it was Aqua Arthritis it was a great class. The instructor was really good. There was a lot of stretching in the beginning, which is great for fibros like me. Then we did upper body, lower body and abs using the water as resistance. It was a 45 minute class and the time just flew by! I really had a lot of fun and plan to go to a couple of classes per week. I also take Tae Kwon Do (handicap class) on Tuesday and Thursdays at noon. It is a very, very small class for people who have a hard time doing the fast paced stuff in regular class. I have just started going back to Curves, and now I plan on adding in the water classes. I have a weekly schedule all made out.

One thing I found very interesting when I went to get out of the pool I felt like I weighed 900 lbs!!! After 45 minutes of bouyancy in the water it was really hard to carry my own weight back up those steps. I have never been in a pool that long before and felt so weightless. It was a very eye opening experience and really made me understand how much weight I carry around on dry land. After a few minutes I got used to being 230 lbs again, but in the water I felt wonderfully light and free. It was wonderful!!

I highly recommend these types of classes to everyone. I wish I had known how good it would feel and I would have started them a long time ago!

Kathy

I also have fibromyalgia, and osteoarthrits as well. I love water exercise, and can get carried away in the water, because I can do so much so easily. I have to pace myself, or I do too much, and don't realize it until I get out of the water and my legs feel like rubber. I also have to remember to cool down in the water, because if I get out too soon after intense aerobic activity the minute I get out of the water I realize how hard I'm actually sweating, and my face will turn bright red and I'll feel like I'm overheating and about to pass out.

My husband has degenerative joint disease, and his doctor warned him never to stay in the water more than 90 minutes, because his joints will start to get too accustomed to the bouyancy, and readjusting to "land" gravity will be extremely painful. I have to say, I would be tempted to live in the water most of the time if it were possible.