Eastern Sirens Artistic Swimming: A 10-Week Program for Melbourne Seniors
Did you ever dream of being Esther Williams, the Hollywood mermaid who graced a thousand screens in the golden age of aquatic movies? Now’s your chance to find out what it feels like, minus the studio lights.
Eastern Sirens Synchronised Swimming Club has launched a modified artistic swimming program designed specifically for older adults, and I think it’s one of the more joyful ways to get active in the water this spring. Over ten weeks, you’ll build the basic skills of artistic swimming in shallow water, working towards a short routine of your own by the end. There’ll be music, there’ll be laughter, and yes, there may be a little bit of glam.
What Is Artistic Swimming?
Artistic swimming, once known as synchronised swimming, combines swimming, dance and music. It’s a low-impact activity that works your whole body while you’re supported by the water, which makes it a good option if you’re looking for something gentler than lap swimming but more playful than water aerobics.
The sport is perfect for older adults because it is a low-impact sport enjoyed in the water. Those interested in swimming, dancing, or simply being active and social will love these artistic swimming classes.
One of the Eastern Sirens’ adult swimmers describes her experience in the sport as “a whirlwind of learning, challenging my body, and meeting incredible people. The mix of the three is what I love the most about this sport.”
Eastern Sirens Artistic Swimming Program
This program has been designed for beginners. If you’re comfortable kicking and floating on your front and back, you have what you need to get started. No previous artistic swimming experience is required.
- When: Saturdays, 2pm to 3pm, running from 18 July to 19 September (10 weeks)
- Where: Aquanation, Ringwood
- Cost: $22.04 for the full 10-week program
- Try before you commit: Your first class is free, so you can see whether it’s for you before paying
- Cost shouldn’t be a barrier: If the $22.04 fee is difficult to manage, Eastern Sirens has asked that you get in touch with them directly, as they want the program to be accessible to everyone
- How to register: Contact Eastern Sirens here to register your interest
The program has been supported by a grant from the Knox City Council Community Development Fund, which has helped keep the cost low.
About Eastern Sirens
Eastern Sirens, a club located in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, believes in the physical and psychological improvements that can be experienced from participating in artistic swimming as an older adult.
As an aquatic sport, swimmers use every muscle each session while controlling their bodies as they go upside down (without touching the bottom of the pool). It’s a fantastic team sport that promotes camaraderie and wellbeing.
It’s not just us, a study looking at cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults who regularly engaged in artistic swimming activities found that it provided beneficial effects on cognitive function after participation for one year.
Artistic swimming provides all the benefits of regular swimming, with the additional fun aspect of being able to participate with music and learn choreography.
Related reading: Ballet For Seniors in Melbourne: Join a Flock of Senior Swans
A Bit of History
Artistic swimming has a longer history than many people realise. The sport’s early competitions were for men, before it became female-dominated through much of the twentieth century, and men have only recently returned to top-level competition. Australian swimmer Annette Kellermann is often credited with popularising the sport through her appearances in aquatic films in the early 1900s, decades before Esther Williams brought it to a global audience through Hollywood.
Since the Paris 2024 Olympics, men have again been permitted to compete in artistic swimming at the highest level, and Eastern Sirens now has a small number of male members taking up the sport locally.
What is a class like?
We start with a short swimming warm up to acclimatise to the pool water, before moving on to artistic swimming specific swimming such as sculling.
After everyone is sufficiently warmed up, we begin working on artistic swimming skills with different modifications provided to everyone to suit their level.
The coach will be on pool deck and supervising all swimmers.
What is the minimum swimming ability required?
The class will be run in shallow water, but participants should be comfortable kicking and floating on their front and back.
Getting There
Public transport: The closest train station is Ringwood, with Aquanation a short bus ride or roughly a twenty-minute walk away.
Driving: Free public parking is available on site at Aquanation.
Facilities: Change facilities are available at the pool.
What to Bring
You’ll need bathers, a swimming cap and goggles. A nose clip isn’t required for this beginner program, as those are generally introduced later once swimmers move on to skills involving inversion in the water.
Eastern Sirens Synchronised Swimming Club
Artistic Swimming Classes for Seniors
Aquanation, Corner Greenwood Avenue and, Reilly St, Ringwood VIC 3134
www.easternsirenssynchro.com.au
Contact: easternsirensssynchro@gmail.com
This post has been produced in collaboration with Eastern Sirens Synchronised Swimming Club Inc.
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