Water Exercise Is Wise - Learn 3 Reasons Why

Water exercise is the best workout program ever! Just as land offers a myriad of different types and intensity levels, so too, does water exercise.  People who exercise in the water know firsthand the magical powers that the water provides.  As a reader sitting with me reading this, I wanted to share with some insights into why water exercise is wise.  It is not just my personal belief, it is the belief of millions and there are scientific reasons why this environment is so special for fitness.

Journey with me as we explore how your heart rate actually lowers when you are immersed in the swimming pool, learn about the added resistance that the water adds over and recognize that only water offers 360 degrees of resistance.

Water exercise has been loved for decades and yet the information out with the general public is wrong - water exercise is not just for therapy, it is for the elite athlete, the aging baby boomer, the football player who needs greater flexibility and endurance.  Water exercise is swim fitness is the best addition to any sport - why?  Because it challenges you, because it stretches your muscles, because it works all of your muscles and because it calms your mind.

If you research the workout routines of the best of the best such as Jack LaLanne, Jennifer Aniston, and so on, you will find out that they swim at least once a week!  So if the movie stars and celebrities cannot convince you, read and learn the scientific reasons for this great and very special environment for fitness - swim fitness rocks!

First off, let's get our terms straight, water exercise encompasses just about every possible intensity you could want.  Yes, water exercise is often used for therapy for the frail and injured but water exercise includes full immersion swimming, swimming laps, aquatic kick boxing and a myriad of great water aerobics programs.

My preferred term for this exercise program is swim fitness.  It truly is the best fitness program available in the world - all in the beautiful and comfortable waters of a swimming pool.

Why the term "swim fitness" because the swimming pool offers more than just full immersion swimming, more than just aerobics, more than just one type of exercise.

The term aquatics is true but it conjures up therapy too.  And swim fitness is an active exercise program that men and women - young and vibrant adults love. But oh, the world has labeled aquatics and water aerobics for only the frail and injured aka the 74 year old grandmother.

I dare all land exercisers to try three swim fitness classes - aerobics, kick boxing, target toning and I dare them not to fully comprehend the benefits.

But back to the scientific reasons..let's push on...

1. Low Impact

Water aerobics is well known for low impact exercise. OK, that is no secret but the other two benefits are deep secrets you must know.

Water Aerobics Provides Buoyancy & Support
One of the major benefits of water aerobics is that it provides buoyancy and support for the body, making it less likely for the muscle, bone and joint to get injured. Water supports up to 80% of your weight, thereby causing less strain on the joints, back and torso, when compared to exercises performed on land.

2. Heart Healthy

Your resting heart rate actually is lowered the very moment you step into the water. For many, it changes 15-17 beats per minute! Heart patients take note!

Your resting heart rate actually is lowered the very moment you step into the water. For many, it changes 15-17 beats per minute! Heart patients take note!

Improves Cardiovascular Conditioning
Water aerobics exercises prove to be extremely beneficial in terms of cardiovascular conditioning. In such an exercise, the heart rate is maintained at a lower rate, when compared to cycling or running. The heart seems to work better when you indulge in water aerobics.

Helps Keep Cool
The 'cool' quotient cannot be ruled out when we talk about the benefits of water aerobics. It is refreshing activity and lifts up the mood instantly. It keeps the body temperature constant throughout the exercise. Also, water keeps you cool and comfortable, even when the mercury is rising.

3. Efficient

Swim fitness is more than water aerobics more than just exercise - it really is the best fitness program available on earth partially because it is low impact, great for the heart but it is also efficient.

Walking in the water is equivalent to 2-3 times of the same time spent walking on land. Imagine walking for 30 minutes and having the fitness benefits of over 60 minutes! Why? Because the water offers more resistance - 360 degrees of resistance - talk about exercise efficiency! The secret is out! Swim fitness is efficient!

We all know that exercising is the best way to get rid of those bulging fats and ever-increasing waistlines. However, do you know that water aerobics are more effective, as compared to land exercises? The former leads to a loss of about 450 to 700 calories per hour. So, if you want to shed those extra kilos, water aerobics can be extremely useful.

Water Aerobics Also Offers Dancing and Rhythmic Body Movements

Lose weight efficiently a variety of rhythmic body movements and dance steps performed in the water.

Lasting 40 to 50 minutes, this kind of aerobics exercise is mostly performed in chest deep water. Right from the basic stage for beginner, to the highly advanced stage for experts there are a variety of programs, involving the use of both arms and legs. The goal of water aerobics is to augment the cardiovascular conditioning. The resistance of water gives strength and flexibility, leading to better muscular endurance and balance. To know more about the benefits of water aerobics exercise, check out the following lines.

mproved Flexibility
The reduced effect of gravitational force in water leads to improved flexibility in the body. The joints can be easily moved through a wider range of motion, which makes water aerobics all the more beneficial as we age. Since there is no joint pain caused, you can perform the exercise without any kind of anxiety.

Helps Keep Cool
The 'cool' quotient cannot be ruled out when we talk about the benefits of water aerobics. It is refreshing activity and lifts up the mood instantly. It keeps the body temperature constant throughout the exercise. Also, water keeps you cool and comfortable, even when the mercury is rising.

3. Efficient

Swim fitness (my term rather than the industry standard of "water aerobics" - water exercise is more than water aerobics more than just exercise - it really is the best fitness program available on earth (post script: I am biased I invented a fitness tool for the swimming pool aptly named the EZ Swimmer, a great addition to your "water aerobics" exercise class).

My master instructor, Diane advises her clients that walking in the water is equivlanet to 2-3 times of the same time spent walking on land. Imagine walking for 30 minutes and having the fitness benefits of over 60 minutes! Why? Because the water offers more resistance - 360 degrees of resistance - talk about exercise efficiency! The secret is out! Swim fitness is efficient!

Burn Calories
We all know that exercising is the best way to get rid of those bulging fats and ever-increasing waistlines. However, do you know that water aerobics are more effective, as compared to land exercises? The former leads to a loss of about 450 to 700 calories per hour. So, if you want to shed those extra kilos, water aerobics can be extremely useful.

1. Low Impact

2. Happy Heart Rate

3. Efficient Exercise

Fun and Social Too!