Mercer’s fitness center offers students daily non-competitive open swim time at the Fitness Center, promoting health benefits at no additional costs.
Recreational swimming can help students remain well-conditioned according to Erin Cahill-Wetzel, Coordinator of the Fitness Center and Swimming Pool.
“Swimming promotes great cardiorespiratory development because it heavily involves the upper and lower body. It’s low impact, so it does not have the pounding and stress of movements like walking or running,” Cahill-Wetzel said.
The swimming pool is also heated, providing a healing component that targets body aches and stiffness.
Cahill-Wetzel says that “Water can help provide relief to sore muscles and joints and can help promote recovery. Our pool is kept warm to try to accommodate all groups that use our pool ranging from toddlers to senior citizens.”
Community members are required to purchase membership passes at either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annual rates. Monthly rates can be as low as $35 and annual rates can be as high as $225. These passes give members full access to all of the facilities.
Seanna Kelly, a chemistry and biology major at Mercer, is a lifeguard at the fitness center. She shares how full-body pool workouts are a good alternative to other strenuous forms of exercise since it can relieve body pain.
“I’ve been playing water polo for most of my life; [swimming] technically works out your entire body and it does help with joint problems because you’re not putting as much pressure on them.”
Swimming also offers students the opportunity to strengthen muscular organs through aerobic exercises.
“It also promotes your heart because it’s like a steady cardio,” Kelly says.
For students and community members who are interested in swimming but are not experienced, the fitness center offers swim programs.
Lizeth Perez, a biology major at Mercer, said she thinks more students would use the pool if they were made aware of the fact that one is on campus.
“I would go if their hours were expanded and if they promoted it more because I didn’t even know we had a pool.”
With the end of the semester approaching, Cahill-Wetzel encourages students to utilize the pool as a form of stress management.
“Any form of exercise helps with stress management. Getting into the pool can be particularly relaxing for your muscles, so I think it’s a great option for students as finals approach and stress levels are high,” she says.
