 For full-body benefit, get into water
The weather is warming up and more of us will be heading into the water soon.
Water is one of the best tools around for full body exercise and cardio improvement.
When I tell people I’ve lost more than 165 pounds, one of the first things they want to know is why I don’t have lots of skin hanging all over my body. I give credit to the fact that I lost most of my weight while doing water aerobics.
When you exercise in the water, you have constant resistance on all submerged body parts. If you are doing a jumping jack, for example, you have resistance to your outer and inner thighs, outer and inner arms, you engage your shoulders to move your arms through the water, your hips to move your legs and you are working your core to keep stable. Who could ask for more?
Another wonderful thing about water aerobics is that anyone at any fitness level can benefit. When I first started an exercise program at 300 pounds, it was the only thing I considered. I was sure that if I tried anything else, I’d end up collapsing of a heart attack.
So, I found a local gym that offered aqua aerobic classes and asked for a two-week free trial to see if I liked it. I took the easiest sounding class on the schedule. I found the deepest part of the pool to work in so that I could have the most possible weight supported.
Unlike an ordinary aerobics class, there is no pressure to “keep up.” It’s truly an environment where you can work at your own pace. If the instructor counted out twelve of a particular movement and I could only do six or even four, that was fine. If I needed to just jog in place, I was moving. It was more than sitting at home on the sofa.
As my fitness level increased I gave up my “deep spot” to other beginners and made my moves larger and more exaggerated. I still work in the water a couple of times a week and I love the opportunity to take all the weight off my joints, cool off during the hot weather and give my body an all-over-at-once workout.
You don’t have to join a gym to start working in the water. There are classes in most towns offered by community centers, the YMCA and private homes.
You don’t even have to take a class to begin reaping the benefits of the water. You can get a “noodle” or two, hop on and start “bicycling” around the pool. You can also walk or jog through the water.
Grab a friend to exercise with you. Make up little races, have fun with it. And all the time you’ll be getting lots of wonderful full-body exercise.
Until next time, stay healthy and be happy.
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