Donna Schimming: Closure of pool affects more than just the swimming team

To The Daily Sun,

While I am sorry for the Laconia High School Swimming Team who had used the Wellness Complex pool for their training and are currently unable to, I feel The Laconia Daily Sun has lost sight of the real need of a pool in this area.

I attended a lot of classes in TWC pool and the majority of the participants are or were middle-aged — elderly with medical issues who need that sort of exercise to help keep fit. Most of the participants are unable to perform more rigorous and strenuous activities such as rowing machines, weight lifting or floor Zumba with Pilates being totally out of reach.

The loss of the classes in the pool has had a profound physical and mental effect on us. It wasn't until COVID closed the gym that I saw how much benefit I had physically received from those classes.

Over time we developed quite a camaraderie and socialized on the "outside" of TWC on numerous occasions; and I mean numerous. Friendships have been formed over the years and have been enriched by the continued "meeting ground" of the pool activities. Several ladies in my friendship pod are only able to do the exercises of the pool classes. I also do yoga, but I've been a practitioner for decades, floor exercises are not within the ability of people with back, neck, knee issues. The pool uplifted us both physically and emotionally.

Donna Schimming

Sanbornton