How Aqua Exercise Can Increase Your Strength and Performance

Aqua exercises, or water exercises, are increasing in popularity across the general public. What physical therapists and sports clinicians have known for years is now becoming public knowledge. Sports and fitness clubs offer classes for water aerobics, water exercise and trainers who incorporate water work for rehabilitation and strength training.

Water exercises are a healthy and physician approved method of regaining strength during and after an injury. They have also been found to be beneficial for pregnant women and recent moms, people with painful joints or people who are learning how to exercise.

Before starting any exercise program you should always consult with your physician. They can accurately advise you about the risks and benefits in your particular situation.

Exercises can be done with little to no specialized equipment such as flippers, flotation belts, weights or noodles. Initially the workout begins in the shallow end of the pool and progresses to a place where the person is in water reaching their neck.

Aqua aerobics incorporates many of the aerobic exercises that are done on land, while aqua exercises are resistance and strength training aimed at improving strength and mobility. In either case the exercises are actually more strenuous than those that are land based and, at the same time, offer more support to soft tissue and joints.

Just because working in the water is easier on your joints and muscles doesn’t mean the workout is easier than land based exercise. Joints and muscles are under resistance during the whole exercise as opposed to land work when muscles work only against gravity. Muscles are forced to work harder, burn more fat and tone faster. Because of the pressure of the water on your legs more blood is forced to the upper part of your body making the heart work harder and burn more calories.

Benefits to water exercises include:
• High calorie burn during a workout
• Support only 50% of your body making the workout easier on soft tissue and joints
• Good alternative exercising for people with joint disease, obesity and recovering athletes
• Water relieves stress and tension
• Water’s buoyancy decreases the risk of exercise related injuries
• Great year round activity using an indoor pool

If you don’t have classes in your area you can incorporate water exercises by simply walking, jogging or running in the water. Start at the shallow end of the pool and walk through the water from one side of the pool to the other. Start by doing this for 5-7 minutes each session working up to 20 minutes. Once you’ve reached 20 minutes start moving into deeper and deeper water until you are walking through water that is chest high. You can move on to jogging or running in the water too.

Remember you were not born in the water! Although these exercises increase your comfort in the water and improve your swimming skills you continue to sweat. It is possible to become dehydrated while swimming. Remember to drink both before your workout and afterwards.

With a bit of practice and some time your skills at aqua exercises will improve your land based performances and decrease your potential for injury.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Download your free report entitled "Powerful Weight Loss Strategies" and discover how to lose weight naturally and easily. Also, be sure to download your bonus free report and discover how to get six pack abs quickly and easily.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated