This year, let Wellness Instructor Jan’s expertise inspire you to take that important first step towards your health goals and explore the diverse wellness and fitness programs offered by SwimRVA.
Jan’s experience includes a Master’s in Education and several certifications that paved the way for her to serve as an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. She spent over thirty-years working as a Physical Director and as an Aquatics Director.
“I’ve always liked teaching people, especially teaching fitness and exercise…I taught aerobics, I taught a fitness and weight control class…I taught lifeguarding. I taught swimming lessons…I taught everything, taught aerobics, taught swimming, taught lifeguarding, I lifeguarded.”
At almost seventy-one years old, she continues to work part time at the nonprofit where she started, in addition to teaching Deep Elite water fitness class here at SwimRVA once a week. Jan describes Deep Elite as “a high intensity, HITT” class. HITT workouts are considered to offer a complete workout combining both aerobic and strength training.
A benefit of the deep water class is that it is an “overall body workout that does not stress the joints.”
She says she is “always the educator…I try to tell people what muscles they’re working…I do a lot of core work, flexibility. You really get everything in the class.” She invites anyone to join her class, and informs participants that they need to go at their own pace, and she tries to “be really intentional about giving an alternative to something.”
If you’ve ever walked by her class you will notice the eclectic mix of music. “I love putting playlists together. Thank you, Spotify…music gets me going when I’m exercising, even if I’m out walking my dog, I’m listening to music…sometimes I’m listening to jazz. I might be listening to the blues. I might be listening to Pitbull…I have a variety. I mean, I’ve got Tony Bennett and Swing and I’ve got country.”
With Jan’s extensive experience, enthusiasm and receiving a full body workout, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your fitness goals this year!