I would like to thank Clatsop Community College for sponsoring the Aquanastics classes at the KOA campground indoor pool in Hammond, and Dale Brechlin, KOA manager and his staff. I know my classmates would agree that KOA was very generous to allow us seniors the use of the pool, free, for classes during the winter/early spring months. Also special thanks to our very talented, creative and funny instructor, Kathleen Hudson.

Many of us participating in Aquanastics (which is not to be confused with swimming) have taken classes with her before. Our returning time after time attests to the fact that the classes were beneficial from a health standpoint. As an added bonus, the classes were highly entertaining and provided an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Even though everyone who came to the classes had their own unique reasons for participating, we all enjoyed Hudsons well thought out water exercise program; i.e., from warm-ups and stretches with our Styrofoam noodles, to shaking our booties in the washer and dryer, going back and forth across the pool doing the Irish jig, cancan, bunny hop, crab walk, frog jump (ribbit, ribbit, ribbit), all while holding (or trying to hold) our tummies in, walking flat-footed (no tiptoes) and keeping our shoulders under the water.

The exercises varied from class to class, and always proved interesting (I certainly was kept busy trying to figure out which arms or legs or head to use). We ended each class by stating our names and answering a couple of often corny questions.

I have to admit I had always thought that organized exercise in any way, shape or form sucked. So imagine my surprise to find that I love Aquanastics. I hope that my observations offer encouragement to anyone out there who has ever thought of doing Aquanastics to come join us this fall/winter/spring. I am already looking forward to more (ribbit, ribbit, ribbit).