It’s summer time! The days are longer and the temperatures are rising, but does the heat have you down when it comes to working out and managing your weight and health?
Aquatic workouts can be a fun and engaging way to exercise during the summer months, so take advantage of the aquatic burn and get moving!
How Aquatic Workouts Help Your Fitness Goals
- Burn Calories – Aquatic exercise is unique in that it blends cardiovascular training with strength training. You can burn calories in the water by performing most exercises you would normally do on land! The natural resistance of water will demand energy from your body without the added joint stress that comes from most land exercises.
- Exercise Alone or in a Group – Aquatic workouts in a backyard pool, or at a community pool when it’s not so crowded, will give you the privacy you need if you prefer solo exercises. Turn the music on and get moving! Or, if you get energized in the company of others, consider joining a water aerobics group at a local pool or community center.
- Add Resistance to Your Routine – Just because you’re in the water doesn’t mean you can’t work out with a little extra help! To be able to run in deeper water, consider using a flotation vest. You can also add resistance through water toys such as kickboards, floatables and water dumbbells. Equipment such as this will create a drag in the water, thus giving you a greater metabolic benefit. Use your own body to create resistance, too! One way you can do this is by closing your fingers together to make a paddle with your hand.
- Benefit from “Hydrotherapy” – Water has many beneficial properties. Why shouldn’t exercising in it be any different? Water workouts can soothe your muscles and ease tension, give you a better range of motion, soften joint pain or provide pain relief from osteoarthritis.
There is no better time to get in the pool and cool off for fitness! If you’re looking to spice up your workout routine, burn calories, exercise your whole body or relieve pain, aquatic exercises are your way to go. Don’t let summer pass you by!
Want to Know More about Aquatic Exercises?
If you want more information on the benefits of moving your workouts to the water, read the full article from Your Weight Matters Magazine by clicking HERE.
