Wonderful, warm water!

I've begun water exercise in a pool that is kept especially warm (85-90 degrees) for people with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other illnesses where it is easier to exercise in the pool. I've kept it up for my third week now, and am just beginning to feel somewhat better. With this fibro it's always a challenge. Anyway . . . this is a "pool club" at a Physical Therapy clinic . . . and the pool club meets Mon-Fri 11:30am - 1:30pm. On my first day there, I began the routine that my PT put me on . . . and as I got in and began my walking in the 4 ft end, the closest woman to me was also walking . . . and she said "oh, boy, I'm not the youngest one here anymore!!". Interesting statement, I thought. Well . . . she's 60 . . . and she's the youngest one there! Now I'm there, and 47, so I'm truly the baby! I've found there can be anywhere from just a few of us to almost 20! We all do our own exercise thing, it's not like an aqua aerobics . . . and the "center" of the pool is ALWAYS where the gab fest goes on. It sounds like a gaggle of geese some days! So far I have only seen three men . . . and the rest women. One man stays to himself . . . and sometimes follows me to my quiet little corner, if we're in the deep end doing our bicycling . . . we have have this unspoken understanding that we can exercise near each other and be in our own little worlds, not having to speak. :0) Though I sometimes gab with the ladies.

Then there's Jimmy who has Parkinson's disease, and reminds me SO much of uncle Bruce! He is faithful, and comes daily, even though he has to rely on a family member to bring him. He's a sweet man, who used to be in wastewater treatment, but calls himself "a Pee and Poop Engineer". . . hmmm . . . nevertheless, he's a sweetie.


This week, though, Jeannie (the 60 year old youngster) was trying to remember how to do her shoulder exercises, which she is just starting after a long hiatis. Now why, I don't know, but there is only a list of the shoulder exercises on the wall. No other exercises (like knee, hip, etc.) And only the names are listed . . . flasher . . . hitchhiker . . . swish back . . . big clap . . . chicken. So, I told her I had just learned them recently, and would be glad to show her how I was taught, much to her joy. Next thing I know I'm leading a class of 7 women in doing the exercises, amid crys of "oh, that feeeelllls sooooooo goooooood!" Next day at the pool, as I arrive in the pool area I hear "oh, good she's here . . . will you be doing your shoulder exercises first today?" . I guess I'm the unofficial instructor . . . who knew! lol