ANGEL FIRE Water aerobics is becoming increasingly popular for people who need to rehabilitate from injuries, exercise certain muscles or just want to work out.

The swimming pool at Angel Fire Resort County Club has become one location for people to enjoy the popular activity.

Care is taken in the classes to accommodate students and keep them safe.

They wear aqua shoes so theres minimal impact instead of jogging on concrete, Jan Zientara, the water aerobics instructor at Angel Fire Resort Country Club, said. It lessens the jolt on our joint just like any other land run. But I would say its a full-body workout. Youre not having to sweat, you feel like youre not working as hard because our blood does circulate faster, the water is cooling them at the same time. And its really the light impact.

Any of this equipment Im using, youd have to have a free weight, Zientara said. Water is 12 times denser and youre working companion muscles in the water, so they dont have any soreness the day after. When youre working with buoyancy equipment its more of an arm curl rather than a bicep curl. If youre on land youre just working one of the muscles.

Zientara became involved with aqua fitness in Illinois and eventually received her fitness training certification.

Just knowing that through the certification through the arthritis foundation, I know how to modify a move if theyre protecting a joint, Zientara said. If they have arthritis in their hand they would have been done. Hip replacements you dont want to cross a midline. I can tell them to modify this and just feel it.

Increasing bone density is another benefit from regularly practicing water aerobics.

When I was working with people in Illinois, they said that their bone density had gotten better, Zientara said. Its not as much weight-bearing, but its enough. You will burn calories but it all comes down to what you eat.

The average age of participants is about 60 and up and classes can sometimes get as large as 17 people, Zientara said.

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Sangre Chronicle > Angel Fire > Water aerobics makes huge splash in Angel Fire

Niagara This Week - St. Catharines

ST. CATHARINES Chris Zhu wants all newcomers to experience the supports hes had since arriving in Canada.Zhu was a business professional in China, but came to North America several years ago.

He eventually earning a Masters in economics in the U.S. in 2010, just before coming to Canada three years ago. He got engaged in newcomers programs at Niagara College, and it was there that he learned about the Niagara Immigrant Connections Initiative, a program offered by Niagara Immigrant Employment Council to establish mentoring relationships between local businesses and internationally trained professionals.

Its tough for new immigrants, Zhu said of navigating the world to the workplace. (With mentoring) you learn from people and about the working environment and culture.

Hoping to find an opportunity in the financial world, Zhu forged a mentoring partnership which lasts about six to eight weeks with Mary Margaret Murphy, a branch manager with Meridian Credit Union. Working alongside her on everything from mock job interviews to resume building to networking at Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce and Rotary events, he said it instilled a whole new world of confidence and encouragement in him, and helped him established networks with Niagara professionals.

Zhu said the program is one that significantly helped him earn his job with Investors Group as a consultant. He said he was able to use the experience he had from China, and build on it to find a job he was passionate about.

Its easy to find an entry-level job and stay, but we need the skills (newcomers have to offer), said Zhu of the importance of the mentorship program.

The Niagara the Connections Initiative, funded by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the federal government, has established 180 mentoring relationships.

Murphy has been involved with the program for four years and is proud to help newcomers like Zhu follow their goals and dreams.

You see them grow so much over the weeks especially their confidence, said Murphy, noting the one-hour sessions cover a wide variety of topics. You have a real appreciation for some of the struggles of immigrants coming to the country, and its very rewarding to help them achieve the success they seek.

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Making connections for employment