Adapted sports: Aquagym is like a choreography

On a Wednesday, late morning, a meeting is scheduled at the private pool of the senior residence Montana in Compiègne. There’s no swimsuit in the bag, but a camera and something to take notes on the testimonials of the day’s athletes.

Special sessions for seniors

Here, we find Anne-Cécile and Noël, both independent, offering specific aquagym sessions for the residents of the Montana establishment. “We offer 45-minute sessions for small groups in the water. We adapt according to each person’s pathologies and difficulties,” explains Anne-Cécile. There are several levels in aquagym. And she adds: “It’s friendly, it’s done in good spirits, and it also allows for social relationships. We chat, we talk… And you don’t have to know how to swim.”

Everything is lighter and smoother

In the water that day, to a background of well-paced music, four people, including a man, are busy performing movements orchestrated by Sébastien. All in rhythm with the music and in water at 30°C. Everyone strives to do their best to coordinate hands, arms, legs, and the rest of the body. But thanks to the water, everything is lighter, smoother, easier. “With aquagym, we relieve. Movements are lighter thanks to the buoyancy of water. We work gently on the range of movements, flexibility, core strength, muscle building, stretching, and balance… There is no ankle impact. Water allows each person to perform movements that they may not be able to do on land. It removes certain difficulties. We also work on memorizing movements because aquagym is like a choreography,” explains Noël, a swimming instructor who doesn’t hesitate to show, show again, and review each movement at the edge of the pool. In short, he gets wet differently so that everyone can perform the choreography of movements without getting injured and without difficulty. In the water, the students of the day remain focused on each of their movements while maintaining a good mood despite sometimes facing certain difficulties. “Noël is tough but he always has a smile!” And so do they!

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