By day, however, you can find her in Arnold Laboratory, where she is an administrative assistant in the office of the dean of medicine. For three years she has overseen the work flow and has assisted the dean in the day-to-day management of the office.
Whiteley took her first water aerobics class at the YMCA four years ago and has been hooked ever since.
"It was really hard in the beginning," said Whiteley, but "I fell in love with it and I never plan on stopping."
After two years - and inspired by her instructor's endless energy - Whiteley proved to be a model student. She began training as a substitute for the teacher and eventually took over one class per week.
The class, which includes up to 20 participants on average, is a great low-impact workout for all types of people, Whiteley says. "There's a good mix of young, elderly and middle-aged people - even a mother and daughter. It's for everyone," she says. The workout is excellent for people with asthma, bad knees and backs, and arthritis. "The water is very forgiving," she said, but it still provides the right amount of resistance to elevate the heart rate.
When she bumps into classmates in town, she says it always takes a moment to recognize one another. "In class, everyone is always wet," laughs Whiteley, "but when you see them in the store, they're dry."
Last summer, when the pool was closed for renovation, she recalled how she missed the class. "It's a great way to relieve stress," notes Whiteley. "After a bad day, you can work out and push yourself physically and then relax." - Maria Rose