SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — At first, Carol Jaquith tried bone builders and senior yoga classes to ease her arthritis and fibromyalgia.
“It was too vigorous for me,” said Jaquith, 73, of North Springfield. “It caused pain.”
Then, she started going to a new aqua arthritis course being offered at the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center.
“After the first class I could tell I could breathe better,” Jaquith said after finishing the 45-minute program last Tuesday. “It helps with my pain level, my range of motion.”
Aqua arthritis is a twice-weekly program that is co-sponsored by the nonprofit recreation center and Senior Solutions, an agency that assists senior citizens in Windsor and Windham counties. The drop-in classes are free and open to any adult age 60 and above. Since the program started in early August, it has been a hit, with attendance exceeding organizers’ expectations.
“It’s mostly new faces,” said Christian Craig, executive director at Edgar May. “It’s really promoting joint mobility.”
The recreation center used to offer an aqua arthritis class, taught by Jaquith, that was discontinued in 2014. That class was run in six-week increments, had a limited number of spaces and was not free.
Last Tuesday, a group of 19 people gathered in the pool as instructor Kathy Mayshar, standing poolside, led them in a series of stretches and slow movements. Mayshar was certified by the Aquatic Exercise Association’s Arthritis Foundation.
“The great thing about the water is if you fall over, you can’t get hurt,” said Mayshar, 64, who splits her time between Chester, Vt., and Florida. “It eases fears of falling.”
The exercises focus on loosening joints, improving balance, building strength and increasing range of motion. Knees and elbows bend, and waists twist. People walk forward and backward, using the water as resistance.
“I’m seeing people improve already,” said Mayshar, a retired physical education teacher. “This class is doing a lot of good for a lot of people.”
Another bonus is that, unlike an exercise class on land, participants cannot see what other people in the class are doing. This encourages people to do the exercises at a pace that is comfortable for them.
“It’s not a competition at all,” Mayshar said, “You’re just doing the best you can.”
Editor’s note: For more information about aqua arthritis, contact the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center at 802-885-2568 or Senior Solutions at 802-885-2669. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
