Water, water, water! How nice is it that water can offer such intense and enjoyable workouts. To me, water aerobics is defined as a non-weight bearing (easy on the joints) resistance and aerobic exercise performed in shallow water. It has since evolved from just walking or jogging forward and backward in the water to jumping jacks and popular cross-country skiing movements.
Water equipment has also become more popular. Water weights, floating belts, and other useful equipment are used to increase water resistance as well as help with flotation and balance. Water aerobics can be performed just about anywhere; from health and fitness clubs to public or private swimming pools to even shallow lakes. All you really need is the motivation and dedication to splash around a little bit (warm weather wouldn’t hurt either).
Benefits of Water Aerobics:
- Non-weight bearing exercise
- Improves muscular endurance
- Improves core strength and endurance
- Great exercise for pregnant women
- Improves flexibility
- Improves cardiovascular conditioning
- Burns enormous amount of calories
- Keeps the body cool during exercise
- Fun and enjoyable exercise
- Great way to modify or spice up normal routine
Safety can be a huge issue when it comes to combining water with exercise, so be sure to take note of these safety tips!
Water Aerobics Safety Tips:
- Contact physician before starting program
- Make sure lifeguard is on duty
- Know your limits (listen to your body)
- Give yourself space for movement
- Stay hydrated
- Be aware of wet surfaces while WALKING around pool area
- Properly stretch before and after exercise
- Make sure instructor knows your health background if you are at risk
- Get CPR certified
- Use sunblock if you are outdoors
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I recently found out that I have osteoporosis. For a couple years I did water aerobics 4 times a week. We use noodles to push up and down in the water with both our feet and hands plus running in the water, jumping jacks and many other types of exercise while holding foam weights of different amounts of resistance depending on the dumbells we are using. I was under the assumption that since there is a lot of resistance in the water that some of the exercises were also considered weight bearing exercise to help with bones. All my discs are herniated so I can’t do out of the water exercises where I leave the ground, Do you have any suggestions? I am 70 years old.