Have you ever tried to do push-ups on a bicycle? I got to try this feat during the new Hydrorider AquaSpin Fitness Class in the pool at the Coronado Recreation Center (and it’s surprisingly not as hard as it sounds). Along with my instructor, Mattea Johnson, who has been a Lifeguard and Aquatics Instructor for two years, and Lifeguard Andie Ledesma, who has worked there for five summers, we jumped on our Hydrorider bikes in the competition pool and the workout began. We did interval sprints, pedaling as fast as we could and then slowing it down, arm exercises while pedaling, and yes, even push-ups. This AquaSpin class was the perfect class for me with a bad knee, since the water puts less stress on joints. The water keeps resistance on every movement, so you can burn 600 to 800 calories a class, which was good news for me, just before lunch. The Community Center recently acquired six new water bikes, so the class can have five participants and the teacher. Mattea did an excellent job leading us through the class, and with music playing in the background and views of the bay, it was a great workout that should be on everyone’s list to try.
Hydrorider classes are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 12:50pm. Cost is $20, or $15 with a resident discount. For more information, call the Recreation Department at 619-522-7342 or on their website at www.coronado.ca.us/recreation.
Later in the day, I hopped back in the pool for the new Tsunami Fitness Class. Our teacher, Sonja Spaulding, who has taught water aerobics and arthritis swim classes for a year, reassured me that I would get the hang of balancing on the board pretty quickly. Fortunately I had another classmate, Sylvia Shaughnessy, who was new to this, so we learned together. We did some yoga poses, planks, sit ups, and spent some time off the board doing flutter kicks and frog kicks. Sonja also incorporated resistance band work into the routine. Moving your arms and rocking side to side on the board in quick succession for timed intervals was a bit like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time, hard at first, but we soon mastered it by concentrating on the movements. Coronado’s Community Center is the first and only facility in California holding these classes. Geared to improve your endurance and strengthen your core and joints, there is reduced risk of injury. This class definitely put my balance to the test, but I quickly got the hang of it and I recommend to anyone to climb on a board and try this innovative class. Sylvia summed it up best by saying, “It was fun with a good mix of yoga, aerobics and balance.”
Tsunami Fitness Classes are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 6:45pm. Cost is $20, or $15 with a resident discount. For more information, call the Recreation Department at 619-522-7342 or on their website at www.coronado.ca.us/recreation.
The Recreation Department does a great job in providing something for everyone from toddlers to octogenarians. Also new this year are the Slime and Oceanography camps, and a Language Academy. Some of the all-time most popular classes include Splashball and Water Aerobics. Summer staff positions are still available for aquatic instructors, beach and pool lifeguards, and recreation assistants, leaders and specialists. Call the City at 619-522-7300 or go online at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/coronado.
