What Makes Fitness & Aerobics in the Water So Popular?

Working out in the water can be a refreshing change of pace from land. The pool gives your joints a break, while still providing a challenge to your cardiovascular and muscular systems. Older adults, pregnant women and people with conditions such as arthritis flock to water aerobics and fitness, but anyone can benefit from working out in the pool.

  1. No Impact

    • People who have joint problems or a lower body injury benefit from working out in the water. You become buoyant in water and thus incur little stress on your joints. Deep-water exercise means you put absolutely no pressure on your feet, which can help if you have a stress fracture in your foot, a sprained ankle or plantar fasciitis. You don't have to have a health concern to hit the pool, though. Athletes whose regular workouts involve a lot of impact benefit from cross-training in the water. They can do exercises such as deep-water walking with a flotation belt to move their joints through a full range of motion and challenge their heart while resting their bodies from the pounding of their normal routines. Swimming everyday is less likely to lead to injury than doing the same frequency of high-impact exercise.

    All Levels

    • Any level of exerciser can get a workout in the pool. Head to deep water to increase the intensity of your workout -- treading water can burn 11 calories per minute. If you are an uncertain swimmer or need a little less resistance, stay where your feet can touch the bottom and do a class or water walk. The water is particularly appealing to beginners or larger people who are self-conscious about their appearance when exercising. As soon as you are immersed in the water, no one knows if you look perfect or if you are moving to the beat of the music.

    Resistance

    • Water provides 12 times the resistance of air, so every move you make contributes to stronger muscles. Water workouts particularly benefit the core, hips, arms, shoulders and glutes. You can increase the intensity of the resistance by using pool accessories, including noodles, buoys and hand paddles.

    Variety

    • The water offers tons of variety in terms of exercise. You can do some of your favorite land-based classes in the water, such as Latin dance and yoga. If you prefer a solo session, swimming freestyle or kicking with a board are options. Aqua jogging or walking are easy to learn and master without the need to learn how to breathe in the water. You can do a calisthenics-based routine in the pool as well, incorporating moves such as jumping jacks, jumps, crunches and pushups against the pool wall. The water feels more like play than a workout, and you don't have to worry about sweating too much.