Water aerobics is a fun way to get fit at the pool, and a great way to add some variety to your fitness routine. Doing your workouts in water provides tons of physical fitness benefits without the adverse impact that hard, dry ground puts on your joints. Water aerobic exercises are healthier for your joints, and it can also be a lot of fun to exercise in the water.
If your apartment building has a communal swimming pool, or your local community centre has an indoor pool space, it’s worth looking into water aerobics.
When you were younger, did you have a lot of fun at the pool? As an adult, you’ll likely enjoy it just as much, especially if you’re getting exercise. Even in the winter months, you can go to a local community pool, where the water will likely be heated.
Many people find that water aerobics is also a more affordable way to exercise, as gym memberships can be much more costly than the fee to use the local community centre pool. If you already have access to a private swimming pool through a friend or family member, this now becomes a zero-cost fitness regimen. Even if you have to buy some equipment for your water workouts, aquatic fitness equipment is very affordable.
During water aerobic exercises, you get to work out major muscle groups efficiently and quite safely, assuring you burn tons of calories without even noticing much impact. If this sounds appealing to you, perhaps now is the time to dive into a new water aerobics exercise regimen to keep you fit and healthy. But first, what exactly are water aerobics?
What Are Water Aerobics?
Water aerobics are aerobic exercises performed in the water, typically in a swimming pool. Water aerobics is often referred to as ‘aquatic fitness’ or ‘aqua aerobics’ Water Aerobics is generally done in the shallow end of the pool, where the water is about at your hips. It’s quite common for water aerobics to take place in a group setting, such as a group aquatic fitness class at your local community centre. Let’s discuss the benefits of doing water aerobics and why it could be right for you:
Why Try Water Aerobic Exercises? Benefits of Working Out in the Water
Water is an ally that can be helpful along your fitness journey. This highly buoyant compound of the swimming pool supports quite a bit of your weight, ensuring that your workouts are easier on the joints and bones since they don’t bear as much load. As a result, you can reduce your chances of injuries, especially if you are out of shape or have pre-existing health conditions such as arthritis.
Doctors often recommend water aerobic exercises for the elderly, people who have joint issues, have had recent surgery, or those who are pregnant. Water aerobic exercises are often the gentler and safer way to stay fit, paving the way for a shorter recovery time.
If you were recently in a car accident, for example, water aerobics could be a low-impact and safe way to continue some form of fitness routine while you recover. Aquatic exercise can also provide relief from chronic issues such as osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, and arthritis.
Notably, water also offers more resistance than air. Thus, working out in the pool using the same land-based movements becomes more challenging and burns more calories. As a result, you engage more muscles and optimize each movement, assuring you burn more calories in a shorter amount of time.
Many people find that their general mobility and range of motion improves once they’re in the water. The buoyancy of the water helps their body move and flow better, leading to higher endurance. Since the workouts don’t feel as challenging in the water, you may find that you can exercise for longer periods of time.
Water aerobic exercises are a great option for people who are just starting to exercise again after months or years of not exercising. Apart from giving you a heart-healthy workout, water aerobics can also offer the following benefits:
- Build physical strength
- Increase endurance
- Boost flexibility
- Strengthen your lungs
- Provide better balance
- Amplify agility
- Mitigate stress
Above all else, water aerobic exercises are fun, giving you the much-needed inspiration to stick with an exercise routine. In fact, it often doesn’t even feel like hard work because most adults associate pool time with playtime. Remember, enjoying your workout is the greatest motivator that compels you to keep ongoing.
What to Bring to Your Water Workouts
Many community centres and clubhouses offer group aqua classes that you could join to start learning water aerobics. If you join an aqua class at your local indoor pool, chances are the facility will provide the equipment you need. Some fancy gyms even have water treadmills and underwater bikes. Find out what is provided for you. In addition, you can bring the following:
- Towel
- Swimming cap
- Goggles
- Ear plugs
- Water bottle
- Change of clothes
If you want to try doing water aerobics on your own at a private pool, you can buy your own water tools. Don’t worry because this aqua equipment does not break the bank. You can try out the following aqua equipment:
- Strap on wrist and ankle weights for more resistance on the arms and legs while in the water
- Foam dumbbells which are light when dry but heavy when sopping wet
- Resistance gloves or hand paddles to offer additional strength training
- Floating kickboards for doing aerobics drills and staying afloat for core workouts
- Buoyancy belts to ensure your head stays above the water without the need to excessively tread water.
Treading water, power-walking in water, doing tuck jumps or jumping jacks in the water – all of this is calorie-burning, fat-burning exercise.
What’s Your Optimal Fitness Routine Based on Your DNA?
Based on genetics, some people will reap more benefits from water aerobics than others. For example, a CircleDNA test lets you know your risk for certain diseases of the joints, and those with joint health conditions benefit from the reduced impact of exercising in water. It’s much safer for your joints to perform workouts in the water rather than on hard, dry land.
Furthermore, doing your workouts at a swimming pool is beneficial for those with genetic lung health issues. Underwater workouts help you strengthen your lungs. A CircleDNA test can not only inform you of your risk of certain health conditions, but will also provide you with reports on your optimal fitness training routine based on your genetics.
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