FITNESS CLASSES

$5 drop-in

Our unique community of aquatic fitness enthusiasts is growing! Experienced instructors keep the variety fun and challenging while daily classes provide opportunities for anyone to join in, even those with the busiest of schedules. To make it even more interesting, several of our instructors have extensive backgrounds in specialty areas like yoga, aquatic therapy, swim instruction, triathlons, and others. Participants must be at least 14 years of age or accompanied by an adult. All skill levels are encouraged to participate.

LAP SWIM

$8 drop-in

With a 50-meter pool that is heated and cooled, Panama City Beach Aquatic Center hosts a robust, active lap swimming community year-round!  Whether short course or long course, lap lanes are available nearly every day of the year with average pool temperatures of 78-82 degrees.  Reservations are not required.  Swimmers observe a circle swimming pattern when sharing lanes.

 AQUATIC FITNESS = BIG BENEFITS!

Nearly any workout regime in an aquatic environment provides a more comprehensive body experience than dry land routines.  Low impact on the joints, distributed resistance from the water, and regulated breathing techniques all contribute to the many reasons why aquatic exercise is recommended by so many health care professionals.  Additional benefits include:

• Swimming is a lifelong skill suitable for all ages and all fitness levels
• The symptoms of anxiety and stress-induced depression are reduced
• Because swimming is considered low impact, those with arthritic conditions, obesity, low muscle tone, a sedentary lifestyle, or physical disabilities generally move more freely in the water while minimizing the chance of injury with exercise
• For children, swimming offers an affordable way to get them moving, create new friendships, build confidence, improve their social acuity, and learn about their physical development
• Increased cardiovascular strength reflective of improved heart, lungs, and circulatory system health
• Improved blood pressure
• Low volume, high intensity intermittent swimming has been shown to improve glucose control and insulin sensitivity
• Swimming is a recommended form of exercise during pregnancy
• Gradual introduction to aquatic activity with increased intensity over time is one of the few accepted exercise types recommended for surgery and injury recovery
• Outdoor swimming has proven to increase lung capacity and improve breath regulation, particularly with asthmatic patients
• Reduced pain, fatigue, and depression specifically related to patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Patients with dementia have demonstrated improvement in mood
• For the 1/3 of Americans who suffer from sleeplessness, regularly swimming can improve the quality and volume of sleep
• Choreographed aquatic fitness classes improve flexibility, cardio-respiratory fitness, muscular strength, endurance, gross and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and range of motion
• Aquatic exercise scorches calories! For reference, a 160-pound person can experience the following calorie burn for each 60 minutes of moderate exercise: elliptical trainer – 365 calories, walking – 314 calories, yoga – 183 calories, swimming – 423 calories
• Participants with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) can burn even more calories with moderate exercise

See Aquatic Center posted schedules or call the Aquatic Center office at (850) 236-2205 for current availability.