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Water aerobics have become a major part of Collett's life. He attends the hour-long classes with his wife, Pat, at several locations on Hilton Head Island just about every day.
"It's the only safe exercise I can really do," he said.
Collett is like many others who've caught onto water aerobics. The low-impact workout fits in well with the older demographic found on Hilton Head, local instructors say. It is an aerobic workout, but because it takes place in the water, it's less strenuous on the muscles and joints. Collett, for example, couldn't do a regular aerobics class, but being suspended in water allows for a greater range of motion.
"You can do things in water that you can't do on land," said Connie Henne, who teaches Collett and others at the Island Recreation Center's water aerobics classes. "It's a good exercise without hurting your body or your joints."
In a class last week at the Island Rec Center, a group of about 25 students, mostly women and a few men, bobbed up and down while Henne called out instructions -- jogging in place or doing a series of jumping jacks. Later, they incorporated those long foam tubes called noodles.
Henne got involved in water aerobics because her arthritis made it more difficult to do other forms of exercise. She's been teaching for the past decade, now with classes in three pools on the island. She estimates the majority of those in her classes have arthritis. Others might have joint or muscle issues that limit the type of exercise they can do -- like Collett.
Collett first came across water aerobics about eight years ago while rehabilitating from another accident that broke both his legs. He's always had brittle bones, so he's had to be careful about his exercise routine. Water aerobics proved to have the balance he needed.
"It's a good workout, but it's not too intense," he said.
Beverly Perfect was into cycling, traditional aerobics and many other types of exercise, but initially wasn't interested in water aerobics. It seemed too mellow. But then she tried a class, and she got out of the water exhausted.
She now teaches water aerobics on Hilton Head, along with a variety of other exercise classes. Her water aerobics classes range in intensity, some incorporating water weights to increase resistance and others that take place in the deep end of the pool. The classes might be low-impact, but that doesn't mean they don't provide efficient exercise.
"When (participants are) done, they know they've had a workout," she said.
Collett returned to the rec center in April, aided by a pool-side chair lift that lowered him in and out of the water. He's returned to his almost daily regime of classes and continues to see increased mobility in his legs.
"It allows me to stay mobile, stay strong," he said. "I knew shortly after the accident that as soon as I could I wanted to get back in the water."
