When Aquaria was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 30, everything changed. She had been active, walking Chambers Bay four times a week, but the disease made that routine impossible.
“The last time I did it, I remember feeling very defeated,” Aquaria recalls. Her neurologist suggested water aerobics, an activity that is gentler on her body and easier to manage with MS.
From her very first classes at the Pearl Street Family YMCA, Aquaria found exercises she could do and people who cared about her.
“There’s definitely something divine here. I feel very safe at the Y.”
Health and Confidence
In the water, Aquaria regained some of what MS is known to attack: strength, independence, and confidence. The cool water helps regulate her body temperature and the movements help her physically.
“Water aerobics is good for me because it keeps me fit,” Aquaria says. “It feels like a true lifeline.”
The staff at Pearl Street know Aquaria’s condition makes her prone to injury, so they’re sure to encourage her, which helps her feel like she’s not alone on her journey.
“Michael, my instructor, reminds me, ‘Don’t push your body past your limits. You know your body,’” Aquaria says. “I feel like he cares about me personally. I’m not just some random person in the pool. All the staff I interact with are like that.”
Family and Belonging
What began as a search for healing grew into something larger. Over the years, Aquaria has built friendships that extend beyond the Y. Members check in with her when she can’t attend class and staff know her by name and schedule.
“It just feels warm. It feels like a family,” Aquaria says. “Without this place, I’d feel like something was missing from my life.”
Looking Ahead
The new Pearl Street Family YMCA aquatics center means even more possibilities for Aquaria. She’s especially excited about the zero-entry pool, which will ease the strain of climbing ladders, and the lazy river, a feature she has driven to other Ys just to experience.
“It’s a game changer,” Aquaria says. “It feels like I’m getting my own new pool.”