Looking for a workout alternative that isn’t all washed up? You may want to try swimming. Sure, jumping into the pool and swimming laps lacks a bit of glamour, but that doesn’t mean this fitness option is soggy. In fact, for beginners and veteran exercisers alike, swimming can be a great way to boost your fitness level and reduce stress.

Don’t let the fact that it’s cooler than a land-lubbing workout fool you. Like its drier exercise counterparts, swimming is a great cardiovascular workout, meaning it makes the heart stronger so it can pump blood more efficiently. This can help lower blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. Unlike some other aerobic workouts, the natural resistance of water offers means you can strengthen your muscles as you work your heart.

People who can’t reap these benefits from working out on land for a variety of reasons may want to consider swimming as an alternative. That’s because water’s natural buoyancy reduces the amount of body weight you carry as you work by about 90%, minimizing the impact on your joints. This makes swimming a great exercise option for people who:

• suffer from arthritis or joint problems
• have back problems
• are overweight or obese
• have weak leg muscles
• are recovering from surgery or an injury

ABC Aqua-Bands

ABC Aqua-Bands is an ideal multi-purpose aquatic band. A huge variety of moves and motions can be performed to help improve strength and flexibility. Perfect resistance tool for water-based fitness and physical therapy. Aqua-band loop comes in three levels of resistance: light, medium and extreme.

HIIT Deep Water

This class will be held in the deep end of the large pool. There are floatation belts available to use during the class. Please be comfortable in the deep end. Core strengthening, cardio and range of motion exercises will be stressed to help you reach your fitness goal.

Aqua Yoga

This class is held in the small pool. Students flow through and hold a variety of yoga poses, synchronizing breath to movement. The warm water relaxes the muscles while the water supports balance.  This class is designed to assist students in increasing flexibility, improving balance, building strength and calming the mind. Class concludes with a brief free float for relaxation.

Aqua Zumba

Pulsating Latin rhythms will have you shaking your shoulders and hips. You will burn calories using big movements in the water. Jump, kick, splash, wave your arms and most of all, SMILE! All AEA guidelines are strictly followed in Aqua Zumba workouts. Steps will be demonstrated. Proper body alignment, foot placement, and core stability are a must to prevent injury. Required: water shoes and your own water bottle.

Hydro Fit

Exercise that Feels Good Watch us turn the pool into a fitness center. We have buoyancy and resistance cuffs, wave webs and hand buoys. Use our equipment and our guidance and your workout farther than you ever imagined possible! Improve your aerobic conditioning, muscular strength, endurance flexibility and abdominal toning. This equipment enhances buoyancy and increases resistance for water aerobics.

Splash Workout

A basic level water exercise class. By using the natural resistance of water and buoyancy, the exercise works towards improving flexibility, muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. Discover what your body can do in the water! Co-ed classes, swimmers and non-swimmers welcome.

Adult Swim Lessons

Would you like to be more comfortable in the water? Need to learn the basics or sharpen your skills? Try our adult lessons! Saturdays, 11:15am-12:00pm (large pool)/8:00am-8:45am (small pool).

Arthritis Swim Program

The Arthritis swim class meets more needs than just people with arthritis. People with knee and hip replacements are encouraged to come and join us as soon as all the stitches are healed. The warm water relaxes the muscles and lets your new joint work easier.

People recovering from strokes and heart attacks are also encouraged to join us. The slow movements are easy to handle and fun to do. This is more a joint movement class than an exercise class. All classes are free to members, we run eleven classes a week so everybody can find several times a week that suits them.
Structured exercise program in the warm water under the supervision of a qualified instructor. Objectives – increased flexibility of body joints and greater comfort for arthritis suffers. No swimming ability necessary. Easy access steps and a pool lift are available. Handicapped parking in front of “Y” and a side entrance ramp available.

Scuba Diving

Are you interested in discovering what is under the water? Scuba diving will open a whole new world for you. Our program is run by Blue Marble Divers of Hagerstown. The classes run from January to December monthly, meeting 5 times during the month on Tuesdays from 6 to 10 PM.  Contact Blue Marble Divers for more information Click here

Lifeguarding & Water Safety Instructor

Were you bored last summer? Do you need some extra money? (Can you swim?) Take lifeguarding or Water Safety Instructor (WSI) and get busy this spring and summer. Lifeguarding gets you outdoors in the sun and will pay you.

Blended Lifeguarding

Lifeguarding puts you in an exciting position, working as part of a team to help people safely enjoy the water. First class is a water test. Must be at least 15 years old by the last day of the course and successfully complete the skills pre-test: 300-yard continues swim (freestyle and/or breaststroke), tread water with no hands for 2 minutes, swim approx. 20 yards, surface dive to depth of 7-12 feet, retrieve 10lb object, kick on back carrying the object approximately 25 yards, in 1 minute and 40 seconds.  Participants will need a swim suit, towel, and a rescue mask.

Class Dates/Times:  Check current Program Brochure

To download the Red Cross Manual, CLICK HERE.

Fee: $275.oo Members, $300.00 Non Members

$75 non refundable deposit is required at the time of signing up

Recertification Lifeguarding Class

Must be a current certified American Red Cross lifeguard. Upon completion the participant receives recertification in Lifeguarding First Aid/CPR/AED valid for 2 years. Prerequisites include: A current American Red Lifeguarding card First Aid/CPR/AED. Must be 15 years old on or before the last day of class. Be able to swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breathing control, be able to tread for 2 minutes without hands, and must be able to retrieve a 10 lb. brick from 10 deep and swim on back with just legs within 1 minute 40 seconds.

To download the Red Cross Manual, CLICK HERE.

Email Aquatic Director, April Miles at [email protected] to signup for the course.

Class Dates/Times:  Check current Program Brochure

Fee: $165.00 Members, $190.00 Non Members

Water Safety Instructor (WSI)

During our swim instructor certification training course, you’ll learn how to help individuals enjoy their time in the water safely – and in a wide range of ways. Throughout the course we’ll focus on many key areas that can help you succeed as aquatics instructor, such as:

• Water safety at public pools, homes, natural bodies of
• Hydrodynamics, including why some things float, resistance to movement and creating movement in water, swimming efficiency and laws of levers.
• Basic safety, survival and swimming skills to help children gain water competency.
• Helping people with disabilities and other health conditions enjoy the water safely.
• Higher-level swim skills that help prepare people of all ages for any aquatic activity.
• Stroke mechanics for all competitive strokes as well as starts, turns and headfirst entries.
• Fundamentals of diving from a diving board.

To download the Red Cross Manual, CLICK HERE.

Class Dates/Times:  Check current Program Brochure

Fee:  $275 Members, $300 Non-members

Pool Operator Class

This course prepares the student to take and pass the State of Maryland Health Department Examination to become a certified swimming pool operator. Upon completion of the course and passing a required examination with a grade of 75 percent or better, the student’s records will be submitted to receive certification as a public pool/spa operator. Fee includes text, which is written by the course provider Aquatic Training Services. You must be at least 16 years old to register for this course.

Class Dates/Times:  Check schedule at front desk

Fee:  $130 Members, $175 Non-members

CONTACT: April Miles 301-739-3990 x4221