PE 101 offers water aerobics in lab course

The first thing that comes to mind for many when pool and physical activity are in the same sentence is swimming laps.  The instructors for PE 101 lab courses seek to debunk that misconception by offering water aerobics as an option for Indiana State University students this semester.

This semester is the first time water aerobics is offered to ISU PE 101 students.  

Michael Roberts, an ISU graduate student in Coaching, said the goal of PE 101 is to keep students physically active and with the school having resources such as the Health and Human Services Arena pool it presented a good opportunity to expand students' horizon when it comes to types of physical activity available to them.

"It provides them with an opportunity to learn other means besides just weightlifting and walk/jog," Bridget Campbell, an  ISU graduate student in Coaching, said.

Roberts said that it is not common for schools to offer swim classes for students and this is not a swim course.  ISU students perform different exercises done in the pool include plyometrics, abs, arms and water weights.

ISU graduate instructor Michael Roberts said the option to do water aerobics as a physical activity is a great option besides the normal PE 101 options which include weight lifting, yoga and walk/jog.  Roberts said that typically you see older individuals in water aerobics classes as it is an excellent form of exercise without putting stress on certain areas of the body and for those with some form of injury and need rehabilitation.

"It is not weight bearing.  The water resistance adds a little bit of a different aspect to the training," Campbell said. "Your buoyancy in the water is different in water than on land so they are things they can do in the water that won't."

The group usually begins with a very basic warm up in the shallow end of the pool and students let instructors know how comfortable they are with being in the pool as they slowly move to the deep end.

"When we see that they are comfortable in the water, we can progress to other things," Roberts said. "We will find a way to make it work for everybody."

The instructors use water noodles to keep students afloat while doing the exercises.  An active, certified lifeguard in case of emergency is also present.  Roberts and Campbell both have been certified through the Physical Education Department in lifeguarding and CPR training.

Both Roberts and Campbell said that they would like to see the option continue next semester and more students at least have the option in their PE 101 labs to take water aerobics.

"We want people to live a healthy lifestyle," Campbell said.  "This will provide them with an opportunity to learn different things and find something they like."