I’m writing to tell you about Astoria’s best kept secret for fitness: Clatsop Community College offers a water aerobics class (“Aquatic Fitness”) taught by Mary Jo Gruhlkey from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

I have been taking this class from her for the past 24 years. We started at Tapiola Park in the summers, and we had to scrounge for other venues (the KOA, and The Dunes, for example) during the fall, winter and spring months. That is, until the Astoria Aquatics Center opened. Now we are so lucky to have a year-round gig.

Let me tell you about Mary Jo Gruhlkey. She is a certified group fitness instructor, with 25 years of aquatic fitness background. She goes to annual trainings to maintain her certification; for example, last summer she completed “Aquatic Exercise for Rehabilitation and Training” in New York. This class included instruction on hydro-dynamics and holistic fitness.

“So what the heck is water aerobics?” you ask. Water aerobics is a low-impact sport for all ages. However, you get back whatever you put into it; the harder you work the water, the more you will get out of it. It’s great to tone up and it’s also a lot of fun.

Gruhlkey has dedicated the last 25 plus years of her life to helping people get fit. Her qualifications also include teaching Pilates, aerobic step and muscle conditioning. She teaches three separate water aerobics classes a week, but the morning classes, 7 to 8 a.m., always fill up fast. Now we are fortunate to have the class offered in the afternoon.

The college charges $39 per term (next term: March 30 through June 5) and the only other thing that is required is to purchase a punch card or pool pass from the Aquatics Center. You may want to get a pair of water shoes as well.

So hop to it and register for spring term; come have some fun and get fit with us.

Josie Peper

Astoria