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Fitness, fun and friendship: Water fitness class in Johnson County guarantees all 3

Exercise and fun are seldom used in the same sentence — except by participants describing water aerobics classes taught by Shauna Utz.

“Shauna’s classes are addictive,” said Marie McDermed, of Mission. “If you come for two weeks, you’ll come forever.”

Every week for nearly 20 years, McDermed, 83, has joined the teacher’s water aerobics classes at the Powell Community Center in Mission.

Penn Almoney, director of Mission Parks and Recreation, says Utz has been teaching the classes “from day one” when the Powell Community Center opened in 1999.

“Shauna is one of our most dynamic instructors and her class is very popular,” Almoney said.

Enrollment has grown over the years from that first class when one person signed up, to more than 2 dozen in every class now.

People intimidated by the thought of exercising are relieved to discover they can move in the water in ways they can’t move on land, said Utz, who holds a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science and works full time as a personal trainer.

Shauna Utz has been teaching water aerobics classes at the Powell Community Center in Mission since the center opened in 1999.
Shauna Utz has been teaching water aerobics classes at the Powell Community Center in Mission since the center opened in 1999.

“The buoyancy of the water takes the pressure off joints,” she said.

As muscle soreness wears off and new participants become comfortable in the water and in swimsuits, they tend to become regulars — for an overall retention rate of close to 100%.

Fitness, fun and friendship keep them coming back.

“The social aspect is important,” McDermed said. “There’s a gang of us that goes to lunch every month. If you miss class, we notice.”

Socializing goes on during the exercises, too. Participants will chat, joke, encourage one another and even hug occasionally.

Joan Gastinger, 81, received hugs during her last class in February. After three classes every week for 20 years, Gastinger said goodbye to friends and water aerobics as she prepared to move away from the Kansas City area.

So that students can see and hear her, Utz leads exercises in front of the pool. Every class begins with participants “jogging” two laps as they move through a 75-foot lane of water to warm up.

While Utz shouts out instructions, lively music such as “Hang on Sloopy,” plays in the background.

The music is chosen not only for its familiarity to participants but also for its cadence: 130 to 135 beats a minute.

“I’m teaching to that beat,” Utz said. “They work harder if there’s music playing.”

Utz, 48, teaches Monday through Friday mornings — driving from her home in Kansas City, North, for 40-minute classes that start at 8 a.m.

Some students gather poolside even earlier.

“We get there at 7:30 for a gab fest,” said Bernie Geis, 80, of Leawood.

Geis and his wife, Sherry, have been taking the classes together for eight years. They enjoy the socializing as well as the physical benefits. Geis compared the fitness that comes from water aerobics to “swimming in the fountain of youth.”

Doris Magerl of Prairie Village credits her 20 years of water aerobics with keeping herself in shape inside and out.

“I had gall bladder surgery recently,” Magerl said. “And the doctor asked my kids about what I had been doing because my organs looked so perfect.”

Magerl will be 89 in May and says she’s looking forward to 90.

Karan Sanders, 80, said she was “living on Advil” and facing back surgery when she decided to try water aerobics, recommended by her doctor.

“Within three weeks, I was free of pain and the surgery was canceled,” said Sanders of Kansas City, Kansas.

“I love going to Shauna’s classes,” Sanders said. “I’m going to do this for the rest of my life.”

For cost, times of classes, or to register for water fitness classes at the Powell Community Center, 6200 Martway St. in Mission, call 913-722-8200.