What began 40 years ago as an exercise class has become something much bigger.
Seven times a week, dozens of people gather at the Whitesboro community pool—not just for a workout, but to catch up with friends, encourage one another and spend time together. Some have attended for decades. Others have joined more recently. Together, they’ve created a community that extends far beyond the pool.
The story began in the 1980s when floor aerobics instructor Doris Haynie attended a training in San Antonio. There, she was introduced to a brand-new concept: water aerobics. Intrigued, she joined a class and was immediately hooked.
When Haynie moved to Whitesboro in 1985, she approached Parks and Recreation Director Penny Renfroe with the idea of offering water aerobics at the community pool. Renfroe embraced the idea, helping to launch what would become one of the city’s longest-running fitness programs.
Haynie began with morning classes three days a week during the summer. Demand quickly grew. The following year she added evening classes, then later introduced deep-water aerobics, eventually teaching nine classes each week.
The appeal was easy to understand. Water provides natural resistance—about 12 times greater than exercising out of the water—while placing only a fraction of a person’s body weight on their joints. The low-impact workouts offered cardio, strength training and stretching, making them especially beneficial for people with arthritis, previous injuries or those recovering from surgery. Exercising in the water also allowed participants to stay active during the hot Texas summers without overheating.
In those early years, specialized equipment was hard to find, so Haynie and her students improvised. Empty gallon milk jugs became water weights. Resistance wands were fashioned from plastic tubing. Balls and pool noodles rounded out the workouts. Today, participants use professional aqua barbells and other equipment provided on-site for a full-body workout.
As the years passed, the classes became much more than a fitness routine.
When Haynie stepped away to earn her master’s degree, community members petitioned the city to bring the classes back. Longtime participant Diane Fielding agreed to serve as a substitute instructor in Haynie’s absence. Years later, in 2011, when Haynie spent a summer in San Antonio caring for a family member, Fielding took over the program full-time, helping it weather one of its greatest challenges.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to shut the classes down indefinitely. Working with the city, Fielding implemented safety protocols that allowed the outdoor classes to continue once participants could safely remain six feet apart. Attendance dipped for a time, but the program recovered.
Today, morning classes average about 23 participants, while evening shallow-water classes have drawn more than 40 people. Haynie still attends classes and occasionally substitutes for Fielding.
“It’s so fun! We just can’t wait to be here,” Haynie said.
Participants have ranged in age from 12 to 92 and they travel from Whitesboro, Sadler, Tioga, Lake Kiowa, Sherman, Gainesville and Lindsay to attend. Morning classes meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. Evening classes meet Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. for shallow water and 7:30 p.m. for deep water. The cost is just $4 per class.
While the physical benefits remain an important reason people attend, many continue coming for the friendships.
Classmates share vegetables from their gardens, organize outings together, gather for an end-of-summer potluck and celebrate Christmas with an annual ugly sweater party. Many have found accountability partners. Others simply enjoy having a place where they know they’ll be welcomed.
What started as a workout has become a community.
“It’s been an amazing run,” Haynie said. “I’m forever grateful to Diane for jumping in and keeping this going. It’s such a joy to be here and see the joy on everyone’s faces. It’s exercise, but it’s like a ministry – we all care about each other.”
Haynie also credits the city’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) for supporting the program over the past four decades.
“The PARD has been wonderful all these years, so generous and kind,” she said.
“The lifeguards are amazing,” Fielding added. “Sometimes they even join in!”
Both Haynie and Fielding are amazed the program has lasted so long. They’re excited at the prospect that it could last even longer, though it takes a lot of planning, coordination and communication to keep things running smoothly.
“When I hear comments from the classes about how much they love it and how it’s helping in their lives, it makes it all worth it,” Fielding said. “Forty years is a long time for anything to continue. We’re excited to see what the next 40 years will bring!”
