In May 1968, the Centennial Pool was constructed by the former City of Halifax in co-operation with the Province of Nova Scotia and the Federal Government through its Centennial grants. This facility was the site of the first Canadian Summer Games in 1969. The Aquacise program began shortly after the pool opened. The classes at that time were offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Noon to 1:00 PM and were mostly filled with participants who were working in the Halifax downtown area. Classes were not offered in the mornings then because the Halifax School Board Swim Programs used the pool for the Elementary School Students in the mornings and afternoons.
Currently the Aquacise program has classes scheduled at 10:00 AM and 12:15 PM five days a week, as well as a 5:30 class on Tuesday, and a 5:45 class on Sunday evenings. These include deep-end and shallow water classes for different levels of physical activity. The lunch time and 5:30 classes accommodate working people that want to fit Aquacise into their daily routine as well. The Centennial Pool Instructors are highly qualified and experienced paying special attention to the individual needs and physical restrictions of their class participants to making these classes accessible for all.
Physical and Mental Benefits of Aquacise Programs
Aquacise/Aquafit classes benefit people of all ages: physically, emotionally, and mentally.
- Aquacise provides a good cardiovascular workout, gently increasing the pulse and breathing rate, so it’s great for helping to improve heart health.
- It strengthens and tone muscles – the resistance of the water means that opposing muscle groups are worked in each movement as you push and pull against it.
- It improves flexibility, while the support of the water greatly reduces the risk of muscle and joint injuries.
- It’s a great stress reliever – the water massages and cools you, giving you a feeling of weightlessness and an enormous sense of wellbeing.
- Exercise helps older adults preserve their mental function, it helps prevent – or at least delay – the onset of dementia in susceptible individuals.
- Because of the reduction of the ‘weight’ of gravity, Aquacise enables older adults, especially those with joint problems, to exercise at a much more intense (and therefore more effective) aerobic level.
- Intense aerobic exercise, like aquacise, helps to prevent coronary artery disease.
- Exercise classes preserve social functioning in the elderly
- It is an excellent exercise in pregnancy, especially late trimester.
- It is helpful in rehabilitating injuries and for those with chronic diseases.
- Physiotherapy can be expensive it you’re not well-insured. Water exercises at Centennial are a very affordable complement to other treatment and aquacise is highly recommended by medical professionals.
- Aquacise participants benefit from the social component of the program, by getting to know other pool goers from other backgrounds and parts of HRM – being a part of the Centennial pool community.
Benefits of Centennial’s Aquacise Program
- Affordability – Financially, it works on a “pay-as-you-go” system, for the reasonable cost of $3.00 per swim. There is no need for class participants or other swimmers to buy a membership, pre-register or provide any other up-front costs. No costly membership fees (sometimes exclusive) that include exercise facilities that are not used.
- Accessibility – The Aquacise participants very much appreciate the efficient and safe access to the pool. Right from the parking lot, the building entrance, into the locker rooms and washrooms and to the pool deck everything is on one level. This is a huge advantage for people who have difficulty walking, use walkers or wheelchairs, or people who have other health problems. There even is a therapeutic chair lift for those who are disabled.
- Location – Physically, it is centrally located on the peninsula and the downtown core, close to a number of residential neighborhoods. People walk, cycle, use public transit and drive to the pool. Free parking is available for those bringing their own vehicles or car-pooling.
A passionate observation from a Centennial Aquacise Class participant
“I think the Centennial Pool is a beautiful structure. When you’re attending a late afternoon class and the sun is shining through the windows in the west wall, the light hits the water and turns it a beautiful blue and you feel almost transported away and can’t believe you are in downtown Halifax at a busy intersection. This pool is a gem and should remain where it is serving its community as it has done since it was built in 1967 for the Canada Summer Games and became part of Halifax’s history.”
Here are letters from a number of Centennial Pool Aquacise/Aquafit participants talking about the impact Centennial Pool has had on their physical and mental health.