In the 90's I used to take water aerobics classes regularly at the Red Lion and later, The Plunge…read more Both were in outdoor pools, which I prefer, but alas, water aerobics classes are no longer offered in those two pools and to my knowledge there is no outdoor pool near downtown that offers water aerobics.
The Y on Hitchcock feels crowded and hot. The pool bottom at Vista del Monte is seriously slanted, so I always slide into the deep end. So, it's been 2 decades since I've taken a water fitness class in town and had given up on finding a water-based workout for myself in Santa Barbara.
Cut to last month, when I was having lunch with a friend and she mentioned her Wavemakers class at Anderson Aquatics. I knew about Anderson Aquatics, which was purchased by the Andersons, a nice young couple.
I remembered the pool from the early 80's, when I got certified for SCUBA in that pool. My memory of the pool was that it was dark and kinda dank... okay for a short course in dive certification, but not where I'd want to go for a regular fitness class.
My friend spoke very highly of the class and pool though, as well as the Andersons, who own the business and teach the classes, and she invited me to a Wavemakers class.
So, I went and the remodeled pool at Anderson Aquatics is great!!! It's super clean and is so light and airy, it feels larger than I remembered the Diver's Den pool. Maybe it's because the roof admits light, so the whole pool environment, while indoors, feels fresh and open. The temperature of the pool is 92, making it easy to step into on a cold December day. At the same time, it doesn't ever feel too hot when you're working hard.
I totally enjoyed my first class and immediately signed up for more by buying a pack of 10 classes for $180!
It's easy to buy passes and book classes through the MindBody app on your phone. The process is to reserve a spot in a class through the app in advance, since some classes can fill up. Cancellations must be within 24 hours to avoid being charged for the class.
The next thing to figure out is where to park! If you're going to be a regular, the trick is to buy an annual waterfront parking pass through the city's waterfront department. For $145 you buy a waterfront parking permit for the year that lets you park in 9 waterfront lots, including the Garden Street lot, which is right next to Anderson Aquatics. Passes are good from the time of purchase through December 31 of each year.
So far, I've only taken classes from Travis and they've been a solidly good workout and fun. He hasn't repeated any workouts. Nothing has felt too easy, formulaic or routine. He's also changed up the music for each class, playing lots of old rock and funk. (I love the funk!)
The Wavemakers class is senior friendly. Even so, my Apple watch finds the class to be a good workout, logging about 275-300 moves (calories) and 45 minutes of exercise per Wavemakers class. Having lost over 120 pounds in the last 2 years, I monitor my Apple Fitness rings closely, and the Wavemakers class certainly meets my fitness goals.
There are some other classes that I haven't tried yet. Water yoga and one called S'WET, that sounds like a tougher workout. All the different classes and their different prices are described on the Anderon Aquatics website.
The owners, Travis and Breanna, are super nice and the other participants are friendly. Participants have brought persimmons, avocados and cookies to share with the class! It's a welcoming vibe throughout. The pool and pool area are both very clean and organized. The classes are fun and challenging and usually end in some friendly competition with blow-up balls.
There are cubbies by the pool area where you can store your personal items. There are also 2 showers by the pool. Each shower has a door and private changing area. The restrooms also have an accessible shower.
On a side note, hubby and I have really enjoyed having a waterfront parking pass in the few weeks since I bought it. The pass has substantially changed our walking workouts with the dog. We used to go to Shoreline or try to score a free spot at Leadbetter and then walk from there. Now, we can go all the way down to the skatepark or the Harbor and walk from there. The first day with the pass, we parked at the Harbor and walked to the end of the wharf, where we grabbed some chowder before walking back. It was such a nice walk, we wondered why it's been decades since we bought an annual waterfront pass. I realized it was because I had stopped taking water fitness classes!
I'm so thankful my friend invited me to a class, and set me in motion to get back into water fitness classes, which I love so much. I expect to be a regular at Anderson Aquatics for some time to come! Come join us!
