Article #2696

A joy from start to finish, doing jump-kicks underwater to classic pop hits has taught me never to think of exercise as punishment

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At my first class, we sang Barbara “Happy Birthday”. She was turning 80, doing fly-kicks underwater with the rest of us – and I’m almost certain she was not the only Barbara present.

That’s the main demographic for aqua aerobics at the Manly’s Andrew Boy Charlton aquatic centre in Sydney: women born in the era of Barbaras, Margarets and Gladyses, many of them wearing a full face of makeup and gold earrings. They keep their faces immaculate by extending their necks and keeping their heads above water (I’ve asked).

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