news-record.com

Come on in, the water’s fine.

Teresa Smith has believed this since she was a young child splashing around in pools in Thomasville.

Now, more than 20 years later, she is still splashing. But this time, she is also teaching water exercise classes at the YWCA on Gatewood Avenue in High Point.

When Smith was a student at UNCG, working on a degree in psychology, she decided to participate in the school’s “Go the Distance of the Mississippi River” fitness challenge.

After graduation, she joined the Thomasville YMCA.

Cathy Vernon, who worked with the aquatic program at the YMCA in Thomasville, saw Smith swimming in the pool and suggested she get her lifeguard certification.

Smith said she had thought about how “cool it would be to be a lifeguard” but probably would not have tried it if Vernon hadn’t given her a nudge.

She learned all the swimming strokes and began to teach children’s classes. She also began to work with the children’s after-school program at Fairgrove Elementary School, which was run by the YMCA.

Later, she became director of the after-school program at
Thomasville Primary School.

She worked there about five years before she started having joint pain that made it difficult to work with the children.

She gave up her job and swimming but missed the pool and being around people.

In 1999, Smith was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

A friend, Sandy Lackey, was taking water classes in High Point and invited Smith to go with her.

Smith found that the water exercise made her feel better. It was also wonderful being around other people, she said. Some of those people also had health problems, and it was nice to be able to talk to them and realize that she was not alone.

Smith took classes for about six years. Her old friend, Cathy Vernon, had become the Aquatic/ Wellness director at the YWCA in High Point and asked Smith to teach some classes.

Today Smith has been teaching for about six years. She emphasizes range-of-motion exercises and those that will help flexibility.

Several class members see the class as their physical therapy and are encouraged by their doctors to attend. Some are recovering from heart surgery and knee replacements. Others have arthritis or fibromyalgia and benefit from being in the water.

When you get in the water, Smith said, barriers come down and class members sometimes get in deep conversations with her or other swimmers.

“People in the class have different obstacles,” she said. “I try to motivate them to do what they can.” It’s important to get in the water and do what you can, Smith said.

“It is always a challenge to start something new,” she said. “Everyone is equal, and everyone is welcome.”

Smith and class members will tell you the class is their family. They really care about one another. If someone is sick, they get a phone call from the teacher or another participant. Birthday cards are sent and “Happy Birthday” is often sung by the whole class.

“I like the social aspects of the class,” said Mary Pretlow, who has taken water-exercise classes for 40 years. “Teresa is always upbeat.”

Wink Cottam, who started coming when she was having problems with her foot, has been in the class 10 years. “I like the exercise, the fellowship, and the time of day the class is offered,” she said.

Sadie Walker has been coming to a class for more than 22 years. “I like what the exercise does for my body and I like the fellowship,” she said.

Smith herself has experienced the benefits of the program.
“The exercise helps keep my muscles strong,” she said. “The interaction with others helps me with a positive outlook.”
Smith sees the class as a ministry.

“It is a way of taking care of one another and showing Christ’s love to each other,” she said. She believes in the strength and power of prayer and often prays for class members.

“I thank God for the class,” she said. “It wasn’t what I had in mind in the beginning of my career. It is a blessing to be of service and help others. I have been blessed by everyone else. It is not about me but about all of us.”

Contact Kathy Johnson at mjohnson2@triad.rr.com.