Living the life aquatic

The City Council’s decision to extend the aquatics season at McCambridge Park Pool is making a splash with members of the Aqua Trim Fitness class that meets Saturday mornings.

The hours were to have been extended last summer, but were delayed when McCambridge Park Pool was closed due to structural damage following the Chino earthquake, said Erin Barrows, recreation supervisor.

“We are continuing the aquatic season because September is a hot month also,” she said.

The extension is getting the thumbs up from students in the Aqua Trim Fitness class from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, said instructor Deni King.

“I love it,” King said. “Our hot summer begins now. We don’t have a typical summer from June to August. Even though I’m only doing the class on weekends, it gives them some relief from the heat. My students are thrilled.”

Members of the class range from age 18 to 85 with the majority of students in the 50 range, she said.

“Many of the people have knee or joint or mobility issues,” she said. “In the water those disappear. It puts them on level ground with able-bodied people on land.”

Some class members have had knee surgery only two or three months before taking the class, the Burbank resident said, and they have told her the exercise has given them better mobility on land.

But she also has people who are perfectly able-bodied.

“This works because the moves can be modified for each student depending on their ability, which is something you can do in water rather than land.”

For example, students can work on the abdominal muscles by bringing their knees up to left, then to the right.

“You can do it diagonally or lie on your back and bring your knees up to your chin,” she said. “And you are doing a full reverse crunch. I have all levels in the class.”

The first 40 minutes, students do stretches then move to exercises with foam weights. It’s a good cardiovascular workout that keeps the heart rate up and works the entire body, she said. They exercise their legs, gluts and then their upper body and finish with abdominal muscles.

They do float exercises for the next 20 minutes on foam noodles, working their arms and legs in the deep water, King said.

“We come back to the shallow end and do water polo tosses with weighted and un-weighted balls, then we do volleyball serves. And after that we go to the wall.”

The students start on their backs, working their legs with a variety of kicks, then flip over and work on the stomach while holding the edge of the pool.

The class finishes standing at the edge of the pool and doing back and side stretches.

“Everybody is energized when they finish and go off to enjoy their weekend,” King said.

Pam Murillo, 55, takes the class with her daughter, Jennifer Lepley. She’s taken kickboxing and weight training with King, but this is her first time taking the Aqua Trim Fitness class.

“You get to swim for an hour and a half, and it’s a real good workout,” Murillo said. “It’s enjoyable, refreshing, and she is hysterically funny. I have made friends there and see them at the kick-boxing and other different classes the Burbank parks offer.”

In addition to this class, weekend recreation swimming is available to the public from 1 to 5 p.m. including Labor Day on Monday through Oct. 11. Lap swimming is offered 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 16. Lifeguard Training Certification is 7 to 9:45 p.m. Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Sundays and 7 to 9:45 p.m. Mondays. For fees and other information, visit www.ci.burbank.ca.us.