If you’re like a lot of people, you think the best part of exercising is when you’re finished. An hour of exercising can seem like two.
But not if you’re in a water aerobics class led by Asa Langenberg. At the East YMCA, he is the instructor and entertainer. Yes, he even tap dances from time to time. For our first class after Dolly Parton passed away, all the music he played was by Dolly, and he wore a big blond wig, a pink outfit and pink cowboy boots.
When the theme of the day is music from different eras such as the ’50s, ’60s or ’70s, he dons trendy looks from those years.
Every Saturday morning class has a theme. Recently it was “Broadway,” for which he went all out. “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” from the show “Hello, Dolly!” was my personal favorite; he donned a woman’s straw hat with floral accent and twirled a lacey umbrella.
Asa works harder on the pool deck than we do in the water, but he certainly makes sure we keep moving.
I asked him why he goes to all that trouble.
Asa Langenberg tries to “bring joy” to the people who take his water aerobics class at the East YMCA.
Photo by Bonnie Bing
“I think it has to do with the people in the class,” he said. “I see a lot of smiles on faces, and I just like people to feel good. I want to put positive energy out there, have a little bit of fun with it and bring joy. I want them to feel uplifted when they leave, and I want to be uplifted.”
He’s been teaching water aerobics for seven years. “When I first started, the classes were more tempered, but then I started stepping it up a little bit,” he said. He has stepped it up so much he has a faithful following.
Let me tell you, there aren’t many things I would get up and be somewhere at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings for — not to mention putting on a swimsuit and getting in cold water.
Asa grew up in Wichita and graduated from Wichita State University. His day job is activities director at Orchard Park Senior Center. He is already looking forward to the Halloween party at the Center. Who knows what he’ll show up in. And I can’t imagine what costume he’ll wear for our water aerobics class.
It’s good exercise, a lot of fun and it goes quickly. Even so, I’m still happy when I’m finished.
Reach Bonnie Bing at bingbylines@gmail.com.
