In 2002, Jackie Press was ready to try gastric bypass surgery in a desperate effort to lose weight. Her sister begged her not to do it and instead “dared” her to try something else. “Why don’t you start a swimming
In 2002, Jackie Press was ready to try gastric bypass surgery in a desperate effort to lose weight.
Her sister begged her not to do it and instead “dared” her to try something else.
“Why don’t you start a swimming class for big people,” she suggested.
Jackie says—with a chuckle— that she had no choice. Her sister had dared her.
Two-and- a-half years and 87 pounds later, Jackie credits her Aquasize classes with saving her life and helping countless others.
Recently, she added a second class geared toward helping people with arthritis. Both classes are free to the public and take place at Kapa‘a Pool but there the similarities end. Press uses completely different methods and techniques for each class.
Aquasize is a much more active class than the arthritis class.
“We stretch from head to toe and we work with water weights and resistance,” she explains.
The class is open to anyone who wants more flexibility and to become more fit.
“It’s a lot of fun and a wonderful social outlet,” Press says.
“Last year we were part of the Great Weigh Out and we had 36 people.” Because classes are held year round, the number of people who attend often fluctuates, she said.
“In winter months, sometimes we have 3, but normally there are about 15 in the class,” she said.
People who have taken part in the Aquasize classes report that they have an increase in energy levels and are much more mobile.
Some even say their diabetes is better as well as their cholesterol levels.
“Exercise in the water is painless, refreshing and truly beneficial,” said Press.
Press started the arthritis class about two months ago.
She says she first heard about the YMCA National Arthritis Training class on O‘ahu from a health department employee. She was the only Kaua‘i person who showed up.
She was also one of only a handful of participants who didn’t already have a certificate.
Most of the others were there for recertification.
“I was lucky to be in training with people from different YMCAs on O‘ahu and Maui,” she said. Because they were there for recertification, most of the other participants were very experienced.
“I was able to see all this experience in motion and it was wonderful to see. There was also a trainer from Los Angeles and one from Orange County.” Press says the arthritis class is open to people with arthritis and other problems. Some of the class members have had knee or hip replacements or other injuries.
“The treatment for arthritis is exercise, medication and rest,” she said. “People who have arthritis are in pain and so they stop moving. That’s the worst thing they can do. What they need to do is move. By moving, they keep themselves flexible.
“Moving in the water is painless because they’re buoyant and don’t feel the movement. It’s easier than on land,” she maintains.
“When in class we ask them to be mindful of their posture, breathing and balance. As it improved in the water, it improves in their daily activities.” Many people notice a difference within a few classes. One man even noticed a change after just one class.
“We do water walking in the beginning of the class where we lift one knee and do side to side walking. At the beginning of the class, he was so wobbly he had to hold on to the side,” she recalls.
Within an hour, after doing all of the workouts, the class did water walking again.
“He was so much more stable he didn’t have to hold on,” she said. “Just one class had made a difference. It was such a validation to hear him say, ‘Oh my God, I’m so much more stabilized.’ ” Jackie went in to the arthritis training thinking the class would be more like her Aquasize classes and found to her surprise it was very different.
“People with arthritis can’t do more than five repetitions. Any part exercising has to be submerged underwater and you have to concentrate on breathing and breathe as you exercise. It’s almost like yoga,” she explained.
On the other hand, Aquasize participants working with waterweights have to do as many as 30 to 35 repetitions on exercises.
Aquasize classes are held Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Arthritis classes are held from 11 a.m. to noon on the same days.
For more information, persons interested in either class can call instructor Jackie Press at 822- 2853 or 651-8936.
