Phoenix Pool Therapy: Aquatic Exercise for All Ages
By Paul Lamont
As May 2024 blankets Phoenix in pre-summer warmth, with temperatures nudging past 95°F, the Valley’s pools are poised to become more than a cool escape—they’re gearing up as hubs of health and vitality. Aquatic exercise classes, or “pool therapy,” are set to surge this summer, turning chlorinated waters into fitness playgrounds for toddlers, teens, and seniors alike. With triple-digit heat looming, these low-impact, high-energy sessions promise wellness for all ages, thriving in August’s swelter like a desert bloom. For Discover The Phoenix Region Magazine readers, this is your sneak peek into a movement that’s making waves across Phoenix.
A Summer Surge on the Horizon
Phoenix’s pools are ready to ripple with activity. The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department plans to open 18 pools this summer, from Sunnyslope to Maryvale, starting Memorial Day weekend—May 25, 2024—through September. Last year, 15 pools hosted Aqua Fit classes, drawing over 40,000 swim visits, per Phoenix.gov’s 2023 recap, and this season aims higher with three additional locations, including Pecos and Encanto. “Water workouts are a game-changer,” says Tempe’s community services manager Evelyn McNiell, whose city will mirror Phoenix’s offerings. “They’re gentle yet powerful—perfect for summer.”
The Salvation Army Kroc Center in South Phoenix is prepping its indoor Aquatics Center for Aqua Zumba and lap swimming, expecting a repeat of 2023’s 15% attendance bump from June to August. Ability360’s Sports & Fitness Center, with its 88-92°F therapy pool, anticipates a packed summer schedule for seniors and adaptive athletes. “The water’s inclusivity draws crowds when it’s hot,” says aquatics coordinator Sarah Johnson. “We’re already booking up.”
Private swim schools like Aqua-Tots, with 12 Valley locations, are seeing early sign-ups spike 10% over last May, per regional manager Kelly Harper, as parents eye fitness-focused lessons for kids aged 6 months to 12 years.
The trend’s roots run deep. Phoenix’s 2023 American Fitness Index ranking (34th) praised pool access, and with 18 pools slated for 2024—up from 15—city officials predict 50,000+ visits. Aqua Fit, blending shallow-water cardio and deep-water circuits, will cater to all, from splash-happy kids to adults seeking joint-friendly exercise. “It’s fitness with a splash,” McNiell says, forecasting a summer swell.
Why Water Works
Pool therapy’s magic lies in science. Water reduces body weight by up to 90%, per the Arthritis Foundation, sparing joints—a boon for Phoenix’s 12.8% over-65 population (U.S. Census, 2022). Its resistance builds muscle without land-based strain, with a 2022 Journal of Sports Medicine study showing aquatic exercise rivals gym workouts for cardio and flexibility, at lower effort. “It’s ideal for our climate,” Harper notes. “You stay fit without overheating.”
For kids, it’s a summer win. Aqua-Tots weaves endurance into play, while Phoenix Swim Club’s outdoor sessions turn strokes into cardio for teens. Seniors at Ability360 use 84°F pools to ease arthritis, with last summer’s classes cutting pain reports by 30%, per staff logs. With July and August highs averaging 105°F (National Weather Service, 2023), shaded or indoor pools—like Kroc’s or Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center’s—will be havens. Classes span shallow aerobics (leg kicks, arm swings) to deep-water jogging with belts, scalable for every age.
Local Flavors and Faces
Phoenix’s pool therapy blends diversity with flair. Encanto Pool’s Aqua Fit, resuming June 2024, mixes Latin rhythms into workouts, a hit with 25-person multigenerational crowds last year. “It’s families moving together,” says instructor Maria Lopez, expecting bigger turnouts. Kroc’s Aqua Zumba, launching summer sessions in June, drew 20 per class in 2023, with fans like 42-year-old Rosa Martinez calling it “a dance party with benefits.” Ability360’s therapy pool, with hydraulic lifts, saw 70-year-old James Carter halve his joint pain last summer. “I’m stronger every week,” he says, eyeing 2024’s lineup.
Foothills in Glendale gears up its six-lane pool for aqua fitness, where 2023’s senior classes grew 40% from spring, per manager Tom Ellis. Phoenix Physical Therapy’s Aqua Ark tanks, used for hydrotherapy, report faster recovery for post-surgery clients, a trend set to spike in summer. “Water’s healing power shines when it’s hot,” their site claims. City pools expect weekend sellouts, while Kroc’s 300 monthly passes—$45 for non-members—sold briskly last July, hinting at 2024 demand.
Challenges and Community
The surge brings hurdles. Aqua Fit caps at 20 per class, with 2023 waitlists hitting 10% oversubscription, per Phoenix.gov. Costs range from $3-$5 for city residents to $10 drop-ins, affordable yet stretched by demand. Outdoor heat risks—2023 saw 645 heat-related deaths countywide, per Maricopa County Health—prompt hydration breaks and 15-minute spa limits at Ability360. “Safety’s first,” Johnson says.
But the payoff’s rich. “It’s about connection,” Lopez notes, with neighbors bonding poolside. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ $10,000 donation in 2023 cut kids’ fees, boosting 4,000 Kool Kids visits at 14 pools—likely to repeat in 2024. “Families thrive here,” McNiell says, reflecting Phoenix’s communal pulse.
A Splash for All Seasons
As May 2024 tees up summer, pool therapy’s poised to shine. With 300+ sunny days yearly (NWS, 2023), Phoenix could extend indoor classes—Kroc and Ability360 plan year-round 84°F sessions—but August will be its peak. From toddlers kicking with parents to seniors stretching in warm water, it’s a fitness fiesta. Check Phoenix.gov/pools or KrocPhoenix.org for June schedules, opening May bookings. In a desert where wellness meets water, every age finds its rhythm—dive in this summer.
