A group of 60 seniors have been making waves in 2024 with aqua aerobics sessions and learn-to-swim programmes at the City of Cape Town’s Wynberg Swimming Pool.
Also read: Meet the Waterblommetjies: Cape Town’s committed cold plungers
According to the City, the programme aims to offer a refreshing and rejuvenating approach to fitness and aquatic activities; and caters to those seniors who want to enhance their physical well-being and water skills.
Having launched in January this year, the programme is designed to cater for the diverse needs of the group by providing a blend of aqua aerobics exercises and swimming lessons, tailored to participants’ individual abilities and preferences.
‘Aqua aerobics is ideal for older people as it offers a low-impact, yet highly effective workout, promoting cardiovascular health, muscle strength and flexibility,’ says City’s MMC for Community Services and Health Patricia van der Ross.
‘Programmes like these highlight just how multi-faceted our facilities are, and that they offer far more than just a day at the pool to cool off.’
Ranging from seasoned aqua enthusiasts to beginners, participants gather at the Wynberg Swimming Pool every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays to engage in invigorating aqua aerobics sessions led by lifeguards, with the assistance of other City staff members.
Moreover, the programme also includes learn-to-swim sessions, which allow seniors to build confidence and develop essential water safety skills under the guidance of lifeguards.
Whether participants are learning to master basic strokes or refine their capable techniques, the programme creates a supportive and encouraging environment that enables everyone to progress at their own pace.
74-year-old Esme Ross from Fairways said she found the programme revitalising.
‘The aqua aerobics sessions have improved my overall fitness, while the swimming lessons have empowered me to embrace a new skill and boost my confidence in the water,’ she says. ‘It’s very therapeutic.’
52-year-old Jodee Veldsman from Lansdowne said the programme exceeded her expectations.
‘Not only have I noticed improvements in my physical health, but I’ve also found a renewed sense of joy and vitality through these activities,’ she says. ‘I grew up loving water, taught myself how to swim, but learnt proper techniques by attending swimming days at Wynberg Swimming Pool.’
The City says the programme will continue until the end of the current season, and interested individuals can enrol in October 2024 before the new season starts.
For seniors interested in joining the aqua aerobics or the learn-to-swim programme, or learning more about available sessions, please contact the Wynberg Swimming Pool for further details at 021 400 5396.
Also read:
SA ice swimmer breaks three Guinness World Records in two days
Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook