Science- Twice a week — after school drop off — I got to water aerobics class.
- I have pelvic organ prolapse, which limits the types of exercises I can do.
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I stuff myself into an adorable two-piece bathing suit — some days it's cheetah or flamingo print, on others I rock neon colors — and after dropping my teen off at school, I head to the local YMCA for my beloved water aerobics class. Once in the pool, I spend 45 glorious minutes splishing and splashing with foam weights, surrounded by a group of women and one man, most of them 20 to 40 years older than me.
At 43, I'm considered the baby of the class. In the past year that I've been going, I've found joy and camaraderie in this pool and have even managed to get some exercise along the way.
I have pelvic prolapse
About a year into the pandemic, I was diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse — which is about as fun as it sounds — and a few months after that, it was determined that I have a type of hypermobility syndrome. It's not fatal by any means, but it is frustrating, as it limits my mobility and the types of exercises I can do.
Unable to stand for long periods of time or lift anything heavier than 20 pounds, it now felt like my body was failing me. Yoga, which was my go-to method for exercise and relaxation, was now off the table, as were certain weight lifting regiments and even Zumba. Trust me; you do not want to jump around on a hardwood floor with a pelvic prolapse.
But I couldn't stay still. I couldn't believe that the only form of exercise that I could do was walking around my block. I needed something else for both my physical and mental health. After some research, I learned that water workouts, whether swimming or aerobics, were the perfect fit, as they would allow me to still get the benefits of exercise without putting pressure on the damaged parts of my body.
I joined a water aerobics class
I discovered that the local Y had morning water aerobics classes that fit my schedule, and I signed up, unsure of what to expect. What I got was a welcome committee to rival any other. A handful of women in the locker room clocked me as a newbie and immediately filled me in on what to expect. I quickly learned which weights were superior to others, which pool noodles had the least amount of chewed-up spots from the toddler swim lesson, and which areas of the pool felt warmer or cooler than others.
As I slowly eased into my first class, I watched women in their 70s and 80s glide along with the routine like they had been doing it for years, and in some cases, they had. One of the women has been coming to the Y water aerobics classes for over 10 years.
I soon picked up the various exercises and was working out right alongside everyone. And after a few months of attending class, I would be the one helping out a new member as they got their feet wet.
They motivate me to show up every week
Working out was now something I looked forward to. Sure, there were freezing, snow-filled days in the middle of winter that made it really hard to put that bathing suit on and head to the Y, but I reminded myself that if all the other people in the class could show up, so could I. Seeing folks twice my age make the commitment to be there helped remind me that despite my body's newer limitations, I could do it. Maybe it meant moving a little slower in class on a more painful day, but I was still there, still showing up.
While I absolutely adore my Y aerobics, taking an intergenerational exercise class has some challenges too. Like when our resident 87-year-old missed a bunch of classes due to a hospital stay. Or when our instructor broke down one day because a former member who had been coming for years passed away. Despite these moments, we still find joy — like when said 87-year-old showed up one day wearing a bright yellow bikini inspired by my own two-piece suits. She said it was the first one she had worn in decades, and damn did she look good.
When my body aches or doesn't cooperate, I still roll out of bed, slide on my suit, and head to the water. Those 45 minutes not only help me heal physically, but they get me out of my head. I'm able to laugh, catch up with my friends, and even work out.