This is a guest post by Kendal resident Peter Buttenheim.

Almost every day, I spend time on the first floor of the Kendal Fitness Center. Once I change into a bathing suit in the men’s locker room, I emerge into a remarkable indoor space. The area of which I speak features a three-lane Lap Pool (84 degrees), an excellent Therapy Pool (87 degrees), and a Hot Tub (100 degrees). A bonus of this space is the floor to ceiling picture windows that look out directly into a grove of trees. This view is lovely in every season.


On Mondays and Fridays, I attend the “Walk in the Water” class in the Therapy Pool. The instructors are Casey and Melanie, and each is a true professional acqua instructor. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I attend the “Healthy Joints” class in the Therapy Pool with the same wonderful coaches. There are other classes on the schedule as well!

In addition, there are “free times” in the Therapy Pool when I do a lot of the exercises on my own that I have learned from the instructors over the last five years. Words fail to describe how relaxing and enjoyable such sessions are. Most of all, my muscles and joints always feel better. With two knees that are showing their age, I love being in the water.

Other regular pool visitors swim laps in the Lap Pool. Everyone usually stops off in the Hot Tub for 15-20 minutes before finishing a pool visit and returning to the locker room. Those high-speed bubbles are excellent for reducing all kinds of muscle aches.

The reason why I have written this essay is the fact that I think the first floor of the Fitness Center is under-utilized. Despite fine lighting, the lovely view, the extraordinary instructors, and the three excellent water venues, there are some hours when many of us who use those facilities are there all by ourselves. What a waste of facilities! While I know that some people will only go swimming in the ocean, let me tell you that our pools all have salt water with only a little chorline.

I hope that anyone who reads this essay and likes exercising or doing laps in a pool will consider joining the regular pool users. Such a splendid facility should be utilized to the utmost. FYI — There is also water volleyball two afternoons a week, and more players are needed.


Peter (“The Water Rat”) Buttenheim