This is a wonderful photo of Andrew Maggio (Class of 2014) joining the Aqua Zumba class that is held in the Guilderland YMCA on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM. The instructor in the photos is Penny Hatch who teaches on Wednesday evenings. This aquatic-minded fitness image was captured on Wednesday, January 25, 2023!

Aqua Zumba is essentially an epic dance party that occurs in the swimming pool with fitness and music enthusiasts in attendance. A wide variety of songs are played from, “Zumba High” by Francesca Maria to Louie Armstrong’s rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World.” The songs and dance go at a reasonable pace for people of all physical and intellectual disabilities. For those who are afraid of looking silly while dancing in public, rest assured that nobody is able to see anyway considering that much of it is underwater!

Andrew is one of those alumni who had made a lot of strides in pursuing a rigorous fitness routine and has combined his trips to the Guilderland YMCA Swimming Pool with visits to the St. Christopher Fitness Center in Clifton Park, NY. We are so very proud of Andrew and his peers for making healthy choices, which will hopefully increase once the weather becomes warm again.

It is often said that one learns better and accomplishes more if they are finding some way to have fun with a task that may not be the traditional type of fun, such as going to Disney World. Andrew and the other alumni are certainly finding a way to make the most out of their time and health goals. We will continue to support them to the best of our abilities. Andrew is now making plans to try to arrange a scholarship membership to the YMCA that will enable him to attend as many times as he chooses.