Making your splash indoors

By Beth A. Klahre

Just about everyone living near the coast has experienced the adventure of the ocean - boating, surfing, swimming. As the weather turns cooler, moving your splash indoors can be just as fun.

Trinity Landing’s director of health and wellness, Nate Futrell, worked closely alongside architects, designers and the builder to collaborate on the state of the-art 60-foot by 24-foot indoor pool at the Trinity Landing Wellness Center.

The pool and hot tub are saltwater, a conscious choice over a traditional chlorine pool, providing numerous advantages. “You are more buoyant in saltwater,” Futrell says. “It is less abrasive on skin, doesn’t wear through a swimsuit as quickly, and there is no chlorine smell in the building.”

While most pools go shallow-to-deep along the length of the pool, the Trinity Landing pool is sloped short side across the pool from three-and one-half feet to fourand-one-half feet in depth. ‘’All residents can use the entire 60-feet of the pool no matter their height. It’s a unique feature of our pool,” Futrell said.

The pool has an underwater handrail that runs the length of the deep end for stretching after water aerobics classes and extra support for swimmers who need it. The stairs into the pool are accessible for all abilities, designed with several short steps rather than the usual tall ones.

The Trinity Landing health and wellness team conducts 109 monthly wellness classes, programs, and personal training sessions, 22 of them in the pool, at no additional cost to residents. “This is quite remarkable for a senior living community;’ adds Futrell. The wellness team has 24 years combined experience working with the senior population in health and wellness, all holding four-year degrees in the fitness field from University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Christina

Piede,

the assistant director of health and wellness is responsible for the aquatics program. Piede teaches beginning through advanced water aerobics using dumbbells, noodles, and hand gloves, and sometimes no equipment at all. ‘’Aerobic work in the pool uses your full body,” Piede says. “Water helps with balance. Adjusting intensity, speed and resistance offers flexibility for all levels of swimmers.”

Resident Harriet Owsley attends advanced water aerobics classes three days every week.

“One of the big draws of Trinity Landing is the beautiful indoor saltwater pool,” she said. “My husband Reed likes to swim laps and I love water aerobics. There is no better way to start your day than a class in the pool and a soak in the hot tub afterwards. I try to never miss.”

“We keep people happy and healthy,” says Futrell. “Exercise will turn your life around mentally and emotionally. It’s never too late to start. To see our residents happy and for our team to encourage a more active lifestyle is very rewarding. The residents are like family. We are like their grandchildren. We have well over 200 extra sets of grandparents. That’s pretty cool!”