Through the years, fitness fads have come and gone. How do we choose from the dizzying selection of choices? The best game plan would be to select a workout routine that has been time-tested and simple to learn. Swimming has been used throughout the ages as a recreational activity but also means of staying in shape.
It’s also known as an excellent form of fitness, as training in water has numerous benefits. Industrious health gurus in recent times have found many more ways to utilize the benefits of water and transform aquatic fitness beyond swimming. Exercises once confined to the gym can now be performed in cool and soothing water.
Some exciting available aquatic exercises include:
- Pilates
- Yoga
- Sports training
- Deep water running
- Target Core Training
- Kickboxing
- Plyometrics
Whatever exercise suits you, there’s bound to be an aquatic version available. As the trend becomes more prevalent, it’s important to consider why aquatic fitness may be a good choice for you.
1. The Benefits of Fitness Training in Water:
Working out in water encompasses all of the major components of fitness, including endurance, resistance, cardio, and flexibility training. When you workout in a pool, your body encounters the resistance of water. The water resistance on your muscles helps to tone your body in addition to the calories you’re already burning through the cardio exercises. The wide strokes and variation in movements provide a full body stretch that increases overall flexibility.
Instead of having to go through a laborious process of stretching, doing cardio reps and weight lifting, you can accomplish all of these goals in one shot.
2. Working Out in Water Saves Time:
In traditional methods of fitness, specific muscles are targeted for training. However, when working out in water, you use multiple muscles simultaneously. This not only helps you save time by working out multiple areas, you’re also targeting muscles that are usually neglected using gym equipment. Water also allows you to safely practice exercises that may be difficult to balance on the surface, but easily maneuvered with the help of water buoyancy.
3. Suitable For Every Level:
It’s recommended that for those starting a new fitness program, individuals should take it easy in order to avoid injury and strain to muscles and joints. Aquatic fitness significantly reduces this risk as it is the only form of fitness that does not heavily impact your body. As most movements take place in the water, there is no harsh impact to hard surfaces. Additionally, water reduces the weight of your own body that you need to support, allowing you to do more with less strain. It’s so gentle that it is widely used as physical therapy to treat injury patients and athletes. Water fitness is especially beneficial for pregnant women and seniors.
4. Athletic Cross-Training:
If you’re engaged in an intense training program but do not wish to strain your muscles, aquatic fitness may be the choice for you. With intense resistance exercise, athletes are often instructed to take breaks in between workout days to let the muscles rest. If you have an event or competition coming up and want to speed up your training process, use water workouts and swimming on your “rest days”. Swimming is effective enough to create results but it is also gentle enough that it won’t overwork your muscles.
5. Condition Your Body:
Hot weather and profuse sweating are often a huge deterrent to working out; not so when you’re exercising in the water! Staying cool and comfortable allows you to work out for longer periods of time. Not only will it keep you cool, but the extra work your body needs to maintain equilibrium in the cooler temperatures will help with circulation and burn more calories.
Brett Callan is a writer for Murray Callan, a family owned swim school in San Diego. Their San Diego swim lessons and Escondido swim lessons offer personalized support for both children and adults.
