Stories That Move Us. Real stories of strength, recovery, and rediscovering movement.
Here is an encouraging minute for you, especially if, like Mermaid E., you could have written the I Hate to Exercise book. Or maybe you’re someone who has a history of joining fitness programs with the best of intentions, only to drop out after a couple of months.
E. knows that pattern well. She says she usually drops out of exercise classes after about three months. But much to her surprise, she has now stuck with the water exercise classes led by Laurie Denomme, the Water Exercise Coach, for more than a year.
What makes someone who doesn’t enjoy exercise keep showing up? For E., the answer seems to be the way the water changes the whole experience. The workout is fun. It’s challenging. And most importantly, it’s helping her feel better.
Maybe splashing in water releases our inner child? Maybe the pool makes exercise feel less like something we’re supposed to do, and more like something we actually want to do.
And for E., fun is only part of the story; the water also feels safe.
There’s no fear of falling, which means she can try movements in the pool that she wouldn’t feel comfortable doing on land. That kind of confidence matters. When fear of falling is off the table, it becomes easier to accept a challenge, try something new, and enjoy the process.
E. has also noticed that the workouts help reduce discomfort in her right shoulder. After class, she feels better, and that’s the kind of result that makes a person want to come back.
Fun. Safe. Pain-reducing. Challenging without being frustrating.
That may be the combination that helped E. keep coming back long after the three-month mark had passed.
So if you’re contemplating water exercise, E. has a simple invitation:
“Go right ahead. It’s challenging and it’s fun, and you have a ball.”
Warmer weather is around the corner, and indoor pools are year-round venues, so this may be the perfect time to try water exercise for yourself. You may be surprised to find a community of Mermaids just waiting to welcome you into workouts that are fun, safe, and encouraging.
About the author
J. K. (Kelly) Amerson López is currently writing Amsterdam Strong, about surviving a ruptured aneurysm while on a cruise to Europe. She is the author of Embassy Kid: An American Foreign Service Family Memoir. She lives in South Florida with her husband and their rescue Lab and therapy dog, Kumba.
Think you hate exercise? The water may surprise you.
Inside Wavemakers, we use the pool to make movement feel more doable, more supportive, and more enjoyable.
Build strength, improve balance, reduce discomfort, and challenge yourself without the same fear or frustration that often comes with traditional exercise.