In the swim at any age: swimming isn't just health-building exercise for a group of women--ages 22 to 82--in Pasadena, California. Their synchronized swimming team, "Unsyncables," represents a close bonding of religious faith, family values, friendship, and increased self-esteem characteristics they hope will be duplicated everywhere in the United States.

When Dawn Bean talks out the group of omen she coaches, her comments rarely mention medals her team has won. Her words focus more on the benefits that go far beyond winning a competition. Not that there haven't been medals and awards. The eight swimmers who competed in the 2002 World's Masters Championships in New Zealand returned home with five titles. That list of honors grows each year.

Bean, a high school and university swimming coach, was coaxed out of retirement to become a volunteer trainer for a group of swimmers ranging from granddaughters to grandmothers. She's a passionate advocate for the personal benefits of the program she directs and says she gave up her leisure time to "make a difference."

While swimming is fun, synchronized swimming is even more fun, she declares. "Water exercise has all the health benefits of other programs with an added one for women who have osteoarthritis and shouldn't be putting pressure on their joints the way jogging and weightlifting do. Water supports the body while providing exercise for all the muscles. It's effective therapy, too, for recovery, from illness and surgery."

Swimming, she insists, even prevents common maladies. "We definitely have fewer colds and flu, even though we sometimes swim in the rain."

Only the Beginning

Physical health is an important benefit. That would be enough to encourage many woman to join a swim team. But that's only the beginning, Bean emphasizes. "A swimming team bonds in a special way. That's an important reason why there are no dropouts and almost no absences from practice. It's one exercise program that becomes part of every member's lifestyle. We all look forward to the fun and camaraderie. Sometimes, it seems that healthful exercise is just a fringe benefit."

The swimmers develop personal relationships. Bean reports that "they support each other through terrible tragedies and they rejoice over the good events--engagements, births, graduations, recovery from illness."

The most dramatic example of the team's biblical-like sisterhood became evident at a recent funeral. A member had requested that, when she died, teammates would serve as pallbearers all dressed in warm-up suits as though on their way to a swim meet. That service held special significance for everyone there.

Practice Makes Perfect

The "Unsyncables" practice once a week: twice if they're going to he in a show or compete in a tournament. Members often practice between-times at pools nearer their homes, putting in an hour or more of swimming, kicking--whatever needs work.

They also get together socially as often as possible--at baby and wedding showers, 50-year wedding anniversaries, or just lunch. There's a Christmas party, a fall party, and they attend as many musicals as possible. Musical theater is closely related to synchronized swimming. "It's all about moving to the beat. in-sync with others." Bean explains. "It's a chorus line performing in water instead of on a stage. Synchronized swimming is more complex than ordinary swimming."

Common Question

The question most women ask, if they're considering synchro, is: "Is it hard to learn?"

"Women can learn to swim at 40, 50, or much older," Bean responds. "They can learn not only to swim, but to swim in unison and in time with music."

Stamina, breath control, and strength are necessary, "but swimming itself strengthens the body in so many different ways, even its recuperative powers," Bean explains. "One member of our team says that swimming speeded her recovery from knee replacement."

Bean teaches the basics and goes on to correct swimming strokes. She instructs in basic sculling (hands doing the work that oars do when propelling a boat), the tuck (knees pulled up to the chin, as though ready to do a somersault but, instead, ending in a twirl-around), the pike (legs straight together, up in the air, toes pointed), and layout (flat in the water, as though floating).

"Some newcomers find it's difficult to just put a ballet leg up in the air until they develop the skill and strength to scull," Bean says. "Others report that it's a tough challenge to twist and spin upside down while staying in the same spot without getting dizzy."

Bean doesn't downplay the challenge of synchronized swimming, but "that's part of the value. You work, you learn, you achieve. And, all along the way, you're becoming stronger and healthier and forming close relationships with others who will enrich your life."

Then there's the applause. What woman wouldn't respond to cheers coming from the audience when someone yells, "C'mon, Mom!" "You go, Grandma!" or "Yay, Sweetie!"

Synchronized swimming has it all, Bean insists. "You bond in a very special way that includes praying together, rejoicing together, suffering together--and all the time you're building health and self-esteem. My advice to women everywhere? Please, form a group or join one."

If you'd like to start a synchronized swimming team, you'll find information at: www.usasyncbro.org. Or you can write to USA Synchro, 201 S. Capital Suite 910, Indianapolis, Indiana 46225.

Irene Clepper writes from St. Paul, Minnesota.