ARC Aquatics
The club offers indoor and outdoor pool options. At the downtown location, we have an indoor saline pool, jacuzzi, and a steam room that is open year-round. We also offer an outdoor pool with a cabana that is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. At the South location, we have a Junior Olympic outdoor pool and a baby pool that are both open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. At both outdoor locations, guests are welcome Monday – Thursday.
Indoor Pool at ARC Downtown
Group Swim Lessons occur in a 5-week series. We are offering group lessons for Babies & Toddlers (6 months to 3 years) and their caregivers as well as group lessons for Beginner Swimmers ages 4-12 and Intermediate Swimmers ages 4-12. More info is here.
Private Swim Lessons: At this time private swim lessons are being offered almost every day of the week to people who are 4 years through adults (yes we love teaching adult lessons too). The aquatics department is working hard to make sure our members have access to a variety of lesson options & now have two world-class swim instructors. If you’re a member who wants lessons please email Shalene &/or KJ Hawk.
Department Contacts
- Greg Brown – Aquatics Director – for questions about the facilities & lifeguards gbrown@ashevilleracquetclub.com
- KJ Hawk – Assistant Aquatics Director – for questions about water aerobics, scheduling & swim lessons khawk@ashevilleracquetclub.com
- Shalene Hill – Assistant Aquatics Director – for questions about the swim team, scheduling & swim lessons shill@ashevilleracquetclub.com
Winter Swim Team
A session is underway right now that started on 11/28 & goes through 1/18/23 (skipping 2 weeks for the winter holiday break). There IS still room to register for this session! There are options to sign up for one or two days a week. To register please do so through the front desk at the Downtown location.
Swim Team for Beginners is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30-6:15 & for Intermediates/Advanced Swimmers is also these days from 6:15 – 7:30p
We’re hosting a team-only mini-meet (for all ages) on Wednesday, December 14th, 5:30-7:30
The session dates for the session are:
11/28, 11/30
12/5,12/7
12/12. 12/14
1/2, 1/4
1/9, 1/11
1/16, 1/18
There are options to sign up for one-day-per-week participation or two-day-per-week participation.
The fee for members for one day-per-week participation is $62.50 and the non-member rate for one day-per-week participation is $77.50.
The member rate for two days per week participation is $125 and the non-member fee for two days per week participation is $155.
Beginners must be able to complete the following to start the beginner swim team program:
- Swim 25 meters/ yards (the length of a pool) with their face in the water the majority of the time
- Tread water in the deep end unassisted for 30 seconds
- Back float unassisted for 10 seconds
Swimmers who do not meet the basic requirements the first week of practice, or who may struggle with these, will be recommended for swim lessons to strengthen skills
To advance to intermediate, swimmers must be able to confidently swim 50 m/yd freestyle and backstroke, flip turn included, with proper form and lane etiquette. Intermediate swimmers complete 50s/ 100s/ 150s/ 200s. Advanced swimmers must be experienced with and adept at all 4 strokes, including transitions. Advanced swimmers must be able to swim up to 500 m/yds without stopping.
To sign up, please email swimteam@ashevilleracquetclub.com
Summer Swim Team
During the summer, the swim team competes in the Blue Ridge Swim League against local clubs in the Asheville area. United States swimming rules apply during all training and meets. Swimmers are provided with the opportunity to participate in 5 meets throughout the summer in a recreational environment. This program is a great introduction to the competitive swimming world. The summer swim team meets at the indoor pool at ARC Downtown, but when the outdoor pools are open, we utilize both Downtown and South locations.
Please contact swimteam@ashevilleracquetclub.com for more information.
Water Aerobics Classes
Water Jog will be offered at ARC South, in addition to our weekly water aerobics classes offered at both ARC location
ARC South Class Schedule
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- Monday & Friday – Aquafit
- Wednesday – Water Jogging
- Saturday – Aqua Fusion
Did you know that there are substantial health benefits to exercising in the water?? Here are the top 10 benefits:
1. It Enhances Your Balance and Coordination
As you grow older, you can experience reduced coordination and balance. Water exercises go a long way toward helping you build stability and expand your muscle strength for better coordination.
2. Improves Your Cardiovascular Strength
The water’s pressure in the pool helps in blood circulation. This reduces your blood pressure, which puts less strain on your heart as it pumps blood. With time, you gain cardiovascular strength.
3. It’s a Low Impact Exercise
Unlike other exercises, water exercises provide you with a flexible environment for your workouts. You don’t need to worry about falling and hurting yourself in the pool. Besides the water’s buoyancy reduces the impact that exercises have on your joints and muscles.
4. Helps You Lose Weight, Burn Calories and Tone Your Muscles
Water exercises can help you burn 500 to 1000 calories per hour. The water massages your muscles in a way that helps tone them.
5. Enables You to Heal and Recover from Chronic Conditions
Water exercises are a great way of exercising without straining your muscles or joints.
The water’s buoyancy supports your body weight, which helps reduce the stress exerted on your joints. Besides, the movement of the water helps tone your muscles.
For older people with arthritis, having water exercises in warm water helps relieve arthritis pain, inflammation around the joints and swollen muscles.
However, water aerobics don’t necessarily cure arthritis. Instead, they prevent the condition from getting worse.
6. Water Aerobics Has Mental Health Benefits
Water aerobics is a very refreshing activity. It relaxes your brain and boosts your mental health.
Here are some mental health benefits you can derive from water aerobics.
Better sleep
It reduces stress and anxiety
Relieves Depression
7. It Aids in Recovery from Injuries
If you’re past the age of fifty, your injuries might take longer to heal compared to those of a young person.
This is because your muscle tissues are worn out and may take longer to regenerate. The good news is, water aerobics may help you recover quickly from your injuries.
For instance, if you have recently undergone hip surgery, water aerobics classes will help you build your muscle strength, which aids in quick recovery.
8. Helps Increase Your Flexibility
One of the main benefits of water aerobics is gaining overall flexibility.
Water adds resistance to the movements you make. Your joints and body parts are pulled and pushed in directions they aren’t used to.
With time you get used to this, and this increases your flexibility both on dry land and in water.
9. It Helps in Cooling the Body Temperature
The hot summer days are here! You need to pull out your swimsuits and enroll in a water aerobics class.
Water aerobics is an excellent form of workout, especially on hot summer days because they cool your body temperature.
10. Helps You Build Physical Endurance
Water aerobics is a unique way of building your physical endurance. Water aerobics is muscle resistance training that challenges your muscles.
As you continue challenging your muscles, they become stronger. As you build your physical endurance, your heart, your lungs, and other body muscles become stronger.
ARC Platinum/Gold members are welcome to host an outdoor pool party. We schedule parties Monday through Thursday from June 1st-September 1st. For more information about availability and cost, please contact KJ Hawk – Assistant Aquatics Director – khawk@ashevilleracquetclub.com or Shalene Hill – Assistant Aquatics Director shill@ashevilleracquetclub.com.
We do not schedule private parties or schedule parties indoors.
Group Swim Lessons
Group swim lessons this fall have been going well and we’re excited to offer the next session which will start January 5th. Registration for the early Winter session is open now for members only & will open to non-members on December 10th. Details about these classes are below:
5 Week Group Class Series:
Mondays Baby & Me for ages 6-24 months @ 10:45am with KJ
Mondays Toddler & Me for ages 2 – 3 @ 11:15 am with KJ
Fridays Beginner Swimmers ages 5-12 @ 4pm with KJ
Fridays Intermediate Swimmers ages 5-12 @ 4:30pm with KJ
Saturdays Baby & Me for ages 6-24 months @10:45am with Shalene
Saturdays Toddler & Me for ages 2 – 3 @ 11:30am with Shalene
Dates of Group Classes
Mondays 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 1/31, 2/6
Fridays 1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3
Saturdays 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4
There’s a max of 6 in a Baby & Me/Toddler & Me group & a max of 5 in Beginner & Intermediate groups. We must have a minimum of 4 registrants in each group in order to run the session. To register for group classes please contact KJ or Shalene (emails below).
Class Descriptions
Baby & Me (ages 6 – 24 months)
This class is designed to get you and your child comfortable in the water. This is an introductory class & caretakers hold the baby throughout. Classes are taught in using the “Fuzzy Caterpillar” swim lesson curriculum which incorporates story-telling and singing to increase comfort and engage your swimmer’s imagination. . The instructor will teach parents how to support their little ones with their swimming endeavors. Because of space/social distancing: ONE parent/caregiver allowed in the water per/swimmer
Toddler & Me (ages 2 & 3 years & a caregiver)
These lessons are for swimmers who are 2 & 3 years old. Parents/caregivers are in the water with their swimmer. This class is designed to get you and your child comfortable in, bonded with and enjoying the water. Classes are taught using the “Fuzzy Caterpillar” swim lesson curriculum which incorporates story-telling and song to increase comfort and engage your swimmer’s imagination. so your little ones can learn to enjoy the water safely. We work on getting faces in, floating, arm paddles, leg kicks, swimming gently and proper body dynamics. Because of space/social distancing: ONE parent/caregiver allowed in the water per/swimmer
Group for Beginner Kids 4 – 9 Years old
This is a group for children between the ages of 4 & 9 who are beginning to get comfortable in the water. A group setting can be great because kids are often motivated by watching their peers try new & brave skills. Lessons are taught using the “Fuzzy Caterpillar” swim lesson curriculum consisting of a story, song, 3 brave tries per swimmer, games & a closing song. The goal during these lessons is that swimmers learn how to hold their breath & blow air out of their noses, that they get comfortable putting their mouth, nose, goggles, head & ears in the water & that they learn how to be horizontal on the water in a back & front float. These are often the biggest hurdles to learning swim so any at-home support or bath time practice that parents/caregivers are willing and able to invest in will help swimmers progress more rapidly. Swimmers must have the aptitude & behavioral skills to be able to stay in the shallow/on the stairs while it is not their turn to swim with the instructor & need to know how to listen & follow instructions.
Beginner swimmers are those who:
- Are willing & potentially excited about getting in the water & learning swim
- Are willing to get their heads wet but may not know how
- Have decided to forgo the use of any flotation devices and are committed to learning how to swim independently (flotation devices such as puddle jumpers inform the body in counterintuitive ways and are a hindrance to learning proper swimming skills.)
Group for Intermediate Kids 5-9 Years old
This is a group class for children between the general ages of 5-9 designed for swimmers who feel comfortable in the water to progress in their skills related to proper breathing techniques, back floating for a rest & rolling over into a front float, swimming the front crawl correctly, using arms and feet properly and gaining confidence with their swimming ability. We work towards preparing them to pass the deep-end test. Swimmers must have the aptitude & behavioral skills to be able to stay in the shallow/on the stairs while it is not their turn to swim with the instructor & need to know how to listen & follow instructions.
Intermediate swimmers are those who can:
- Put their whole face/head in the water
- Hold their breath for at least 10 seconds
- Lay down flat on their backs on the water (but may not have nailed the float)
KJ Hawk – Assistant Aquatics Director – for questions about water aerobics, scheduling & swim lessons khawk@ashevilleracquetclub.com
Shalene Hill – Assistant Aquatics Director – for questions about the swim team, scheduling & swim lessons shill@ashevilleracquetclub.com
