Aqua Fitness

Happy first day of June everyone! I think it's safe to say, Summer has arrived and I'm not complainin'. At least here in Wilmington it certainly has. With the warm weather and the urge to get outside and enjoy that sun, what better way to get your fitness on than in the pool?

Not that kind of fitness, sorry! Lets talk about some different Aqua Fitness EXERCISES you can try out this summer.

What's the benefit of aquatic exercise? Water fitness of any sort is non-weight bearing. This means we avoid the challenge that land-based exercise produces on our joints and the possible aches and pains that come along with that. It's perfect for all populations for several reasons-

• It's high calorie burning
• Increases cardiovascular (aerobic) capacity as well as muscular endurance
• Typically accompanied with less muscle soreness post-exercise
• Intensity of each move can be changed to adapt to all levels of athletes
• Perfect for elderly populations, those with injuries, arthritis etc

What are the different types of activities/classes I can do and how are they all different?

• Swimming- traditional strokes typically completed within lanes, body is afloat the entire time. Full body-high respiratory demand-high aerobic demand.

You don't have to be an elite athlete- I just couldn't resist :)

Water Aerobics- land-based strength/cardiovascular moves performed in the water. Don't be fooled when you hear the word "aerobics". These types of classes can be performed at varying intensities and despite what many people may think, are not just for specific populations. 

Deep Water- Exercise movements performed in deep water where feet do not come in contact with the ground. Some participants prefer to wear a weight belt to help keep them afloat but many do not. Those without a belt will work a bit harder as they will have to tread water the majority of time.

Shallow Water- A less intense version of Water Aerobics because feet are able to touch the bottom of the pool. People will perform movements using aqua equipment like dumbbells and kickboards but also moves without equipment such as running, jumping, squatting etc. 

Where should I start? If you don't know how to swim, you probably want to start with the shallow water type class/exercise. This will allow you to get used to the moves with both feet on the ground! If you know how to swim, you can ultimately start anywhere. Aqua Exercise can be done in virtually any body of water big enough, is extremely fun and an awesome way to mix up your fitness routine and torch some calories. Not only that, but if you are going outdoors, exposing your skin to the sun is the best way to get your dose of Vitamin D for the day!! Just don't forget your sunscreen.

Have you ever taken a Water Fitness class? What did you think?