Water Workout: Your Fun Path to Fitness and Flexibility
A water workout, variously known as water aerobics, aqua aerobics or just plain water exercise, is one of the most gentle yet effective forms of resistance training that can lead people of all ages to new levels of fitness and flexibility.
Using the natural pull of water, these exercises are usually performed in a swimming pool at a health club, water fitness center and in private and public pools across the world. You don’t have to belong to a gym or aqua facility to engage in a water workout, though. There are also water workout classes in rivers, lakes and the shallow water of our oceans. Many other exercisers just do them in their own pool, too, at school and university swimming pools, or while on vacation using resort or hotel pools.
In short, water workout classes are widely available and there is hardly no town too small not to have a water workout class.
Why is a water workout so effective? The use of water in water aerobics supports the body and reduces the risk of muscle or joint injury. Countless people have used a water workout to regain strength and flexibility as part of physical rehabilitation following an injury, only to find themselves so hooked on the waer exercises they’ve learned that they incorporate it into their everyday lifestyle. A water workout is particularly effective with seniors unable to do the jarring moves of more traditional exercises. Same thing with those looking to lose weight and find a way to bring regular exercise into their life.
If you’ve never experienced a water workout, you are in for a treat. Fun, highly social and often accompanied by music and team games, it is exhilarating and motivating. This, finally, is an exercise you can stick with.
You don’t need to be a strong swimmer. Most water workout classes are taught by highly skilled instructors who go through rigorous training in exercise biomechanics, skeletal muscle physiology, anatomy, as well as special instruction on the use of exercise in helping those with conditions such as arthritis or in need injury recovery.
Make no mistake, water exercise is not for those too old or too feeble to do other sports. Have you ever noticed that that competitive swimmers often have the types of physiques that most people envy? The reason is that they build muscle and burn fat quickly because they’re constantly propelling themselves through water. A water workout is for everyone. The typical class burns 200 – 300 calories. And yet it does so while also reducing your risk of injury compared to other forms of exercise like as running, weight lifting, or contact sports.
Water exercise routines offer a complete physical workout. That means it consists of aerobic, resistance and stretching exercises. In the pool, water workout participants can walk, jog and even run, using that natural resistance of the water to strengthen quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes, as well developing cardio and respiratory fitness. You can add specialized arm and leg weights made for the pool or a water ball to push down, or a nodle to help with balance and core strength. Then there are the games that you can play which keep you moving in many directions, stopping and starting, gaining flexibility and balance.
Ready to try a water workout? As usual when starting any form of exercise, make sure you talk it over and get your doctors okay before plunging in. But go for it… you are going to love water exercise.
Come on in! The waters fine!
