Page 34 - Sun Rays_February 2016

FITNESS Fitness Center Happenings

Julie O’Connor Group Fitness Tutorial
Personal Aquatic Trainer
Monday, Feb. 8 at 9:45 a.m., CC
Julie has been leading group
aquatic exercise classes, performing Sun City Texas Group Fitness Coordinator Beth White
swimming instruction and offering will answer your questions about group fitness classes.
one-on-one adapted aquatic
programs since 1982. She has a February Group Fitness All Access Pass
passion for swimming and helping others.
Certifications: Unlimited Group Fitness classes for only $60!
• Aquatic Exercise Association
certified since 1992 Personal training tutorial
• Ai Chi advanced certified
• Halliwick Certified Adapted Aquatic Instructor Monday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m., CC
• Personal Aquatic Trainer (AEA)
• Advanced studies through Aquatic Sun City Texas Personal Training Coordinator John
Therapy and Rehab Institute Rutan will answer your questions about personal training.
For an appointment with Julie, call 512-630-6203
FREE equipment demonstrations

Join us for an inside look at a piece of fitness equipment,
including proper set-up and how to use it most effectively.
Texas Drive Feb. 10 | Recumbent Bike
Cowan Creek Feb. 24 | Recumbent Bike

Unwind with a Sun City Texas Massage!

Get a 60-minute massage starting as low as $65 at the
Cowan Creek Fitness Center. Call 512-948-7781.

Athlete of the Month By Lynda Dufour

“Patient” is the first word that comes to Jan Pinkston - Personal Aquatic Trainer: Julie O’Connor
Jan Pickston’s mind when she describes
Sun City Texas personal aquatic trainer glide to supine float to standing from each and to overcome any setbacks.
Julie O’Connor. “Caring” follows right position, all of which has been critical in
after. her ability to learn to swim after more “Water is a gentle medium to relearn
than 30 years,” says Julie, adding that skills that may have been dormant
It’s both of those attributes that motivate Jan, a former water skier and dancer, is or interrupted due to medical issues,”
Jan to consistently workout twice a week now able to perform a modified backstroke explains Julie. “It’s a great way to move
with Julie at the Texas Drive Fitness for up to 50 yards. She is also working to without pain, to strengthen atrophied
Center indoor lap pool. Her goal, she improve her freestyle. muscles, and to pursue health and
says, is to not only to improve balance, wellness at any stage of life. My purpose
coordination, and her overall quality of “Jan has a great attitude and presses on as an aquatic specialist is to help people
life, but also to enhance her swimming despite some medical challenges,” says get reacquainted with their body and
skills so that she can start swimming Julie, adding that Jan is a “joy” to train to help them move more effectively and
laps. And Julie, she notes, is helping her and sets a good example for others because efficiently in water. The ultimate goal is
make headway in all those areas. she is determined to improve her abilities always independence.”

“Jan initially was involved in my Aqua for
Balance group fitness class,” says Julie,
“but she quickly found out that the water
was more of a challenge than she thought.
She struggled with balance issues that
needed more one-on-one attention. She
and her husband also agreed that safety
was of utmost importance, so our primary
goal was to have her doing exercises from
the Aqua for Balance class proficiently
and safely.”

According to Julie, the duo progressed to
improving Jan’s swimming skills after
first tackling independent standing
balance exercises and the successful use
of fitness equipment such as the aqua
noodle. “We began with the basics -- prone

32 | SUNRAYS FEBRUARY 2016 ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG