A Night of Swimming, Dancing and Glow Sticks

LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center held its first Aqua Glow Hip Hop fitness class at the David’s Place pool on Saturday, Sept. 4 from 8-9 p.m.  

The goal was to get students interested in aqua fitness. Everyone wore glow sticks, danced and exercised in the water. Zumba instructor Kiara Wilson made sure her students broke a sweat and stayed cool at the same time. 

“You can have fun when working out,” Wilson said. “It’s really great to incorporate discipline, but also it can be something that you love and having something that you love allows that discipline to carry on and allows you to have consistency in your fitness journey.” 

The class contained approximately 15 students who were following Wilson’s motions as she danced on a mat outside of the pool, according to student Moriah Ray.

“I’m not really into exercising, but doing it in the water made it fun,” Ray said. “My favorite part about being in the class was the fact I could swim and play along with my friends right beside me.” 

Student Emily Lagerquist explained why she feels aqua fitness is better for her body rather than outdoor fitness and why she tries to go to all the aqua fitness classes that Liberty offers.

“I enjoy it because it’s better for your body,” Lagerquist said. “The anti-gravity aspects of it make it easier to move and it’s less strain on your joints.” 

The class not only provided glow sticks and music but also a raffle with the chance to win a Group Ex Plus membership, which is a free pass at any group exercise that LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center offers. According to Wilson, these raffles only happen at special events such as Aqua Glow Hip Hop, so she encourages students to show up so they can have a chance to win. 

 LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center has many reasons to promote aqua fitness. Group Exercise manager Emma Kongs explained that aqua Zumba became a super popular way for students to work out over the past two semesters because they wanted students to gain interest in fitness without it feeling like a chore. 

“So [Aqua Glow Hip Hop] is really my attempt to make aqua fitness more enjoyable…we wanted community groups and even faculty to be able to join,” Kongs said. “This is a unique event, and we can use these kinds of events to make people hopefully gain interest in aqua fitness.” 

Kongs also explained that aqua Zumba classes happen around three or four times a semester, so these special events are a really good way for students to continue their aqua fitness journey while having a splashing good time with their friends. 

Wallace is a news reporter. Follow her on Twitter at @kait1200.