What crosses your mind when you think of the swimming pool? I bet screaming children having fun, or grey-haired ladies treading water comes to mind.
But did you know that water exercise is a great workout for all ages, of all sizes too? Below you will find a list of reasons why you should include water exercises on your to-do list!
1. Water exercise is naturally a low impact exercise. This means there is little chance of injuring yourself while performing such exercises. As the water floats your body, there is no excessive weightbearing on your joints during your exercises. Excessive weightbearing can often be a cause of injury when exercising, however when in the water, this is not an issue you have to worry about. You will be able to burn those calories and get in that cardio workout without risking your joints. When standing in the water at waist level, a person will only be holding a maximum of 50% of their body weight, this is reduced if the water is at chest level, where they will only be holding a maximum of 30% of their weight.
2. Exercising in the water, swimming or other exercises, are typically whole-body workouts. Swimming in the water, this creates resistance, which will work out your whole body, from your legs, to your core, to your arms.
3. More than anything, water exercises is great fun! It is relaxing and can help relieve stress. There is nothing more fun than splashing around with friends or joining a water exercise class.
4. Have you seen physically disabled or injured people using water as a great way to help strengthen and improve their conditions/ muscles? This is because moving in the water is far easier than it is to move on land. By practicing in the water, gradually we can build up the strength to perform our in-the-water exercises, out of water.
5. If you happen to have an injury, and are unable to train, then exercising in the pool may allow you the ability to keep up your training without hurting yourself. As mentioned above, it is easier to move in the pool. The water will allow you to keep training, but in a manner that won’t hurt you, and won’t affect your recovery.
6. If you have a fear of falling, then practicing falling in the pool can greatly help you overcome that. So, go on, test your balance in an environment where you are safe.
7. One great benefit to exercising in the water, is that you are not at risk of overheating as you are when exercising on land. This is fantastic for people who would prefer not to sweat, or for those who have difficulty coping with conditions that are impacted by the internal warmth that is created by exercising, such as Multiple Sclerosis.
8. In contrast, if the outside temperature is sub-zero, what better way to get that bit warmer than inside a swimming pool. The majority of aquatic centers regulate their temperatures to keep it at around 80 degrees or higher. This will allow you to find that ideal break from those icy fingers outside.
9. If you are an adventurous individual, seeking new activities, why not try Tai Chi or Yoga in the water? There is no better and more fun place to try out these exercises. The water will provide you with a safe environment where you can test your balance and flowing movements, which would otherwise be too hard on land.
10. Or perhaps you are just ready for a new challenge overall when it comes to water? Why not invest in some swim classes or learn to train for a triathlon? The world really is your oyster, or your ocean in this case.
11. Warm water exercise has been proven to greatly help with pain management. Yes, that’s right, it can actually help reduce your pain if you have a current painful condition. A 2014 systematic review by Monash University found that individuals who suffer from musculoskeletal conditions, truly benefited from the warm water exercises. Their progress through warm water exercises included greater improvements in their physical functions and a higher quality of life. This is because warm water can aid in decreasing stiffness felt in painful joints and muscles.
As you can see, water exercise is a fantastic way to enjoy exercise.
There are multiple benefits, and we can assure that upon getting yourself into the routine of exercising in the water, you will see the benefits quickly. Whether that’s socially, emotionally or physically, or all of them combined, that’s up to you to find out. So, go on, why not fully immerse yourself in a new challenge?
