Water offers a resistance and buoyancy that cannot be experienced when doing regular ground-based exercises. The benefits of water aerobics include lower blood pressure, increased bone density, stronger muscles, corrected body posture, pain relief, and weight loss. The calming effect of water on our bodies extends to our minds as well. Injured, obese, and elderly individuals can benefit the most from it. (And you don’t have to sweat at all)
If you’re struggling with regular land workouts or you’re bored with monotonous gym routines, switch things up and get into a pool. (That’s if you can swim)
Working out in water is particularly helpful for people with injuries in the muscle, tendon, and bone, overweight or obese individuals, pregnant women, and the elderly. But the health benefits of water aerobics are not limited to just them.
If you can’t swim or you’re afraid of water, stand in shallow water. Water aerobics in shallow water is just as effective. Dangle your feet in the water awhile and gradually make your way in.
Aqua Aerobics has indeed been proven to have these benefits:
Strengthens Muscles and Builds Stamina
Aerobics, in general, focuses on large muscles such as those in your limbs. Combine it with water resistance and you’re left with stronger muscles.
The force of water from all directions on your body’s surface acts like weights tied all over your body, doing what dumbbells and kettlebells would do if you were working out on land – but on a larger scale.
What’s more, you can work 2 opposing muscle groups simultaneously in water, whereas on land you will probably need to focus on one group at a time. In the basic pull and push movements of your arms and legs in water, you will be able to develop more stamina without feeling the brunt of it. Water buoyancy will be your new best friend. (Speaking literally)
Improves Flexibility and Range of Motion
While exercising on land, your body movements are restricted by the effects of gravity and the fear of falling. When in water, you can let go of these worries. You can fearlessly increase your range of motion, exerting muscles that you would not otherwise be able to exert outside water.
Do water exercises to improve back and lower body flexibility. While performing stretches, overcome your mental block about your range of motion
Offers Relief from Chronic Pain
Gentle waves hitting against you have a massaging effect on your skin – which is why a major benefit of water exercise is pain relief. By working against the water’s resistance, you can reduce stiffness and soreness to a great extent.
Water aerobics can heal lower back pain caused by pregnancy.
Water aerobics can even alleviate pain from chronic conditions like knee and hip osteoarthritis. Aquatic aerobics are highly recommended for pregnant women suffering from lower back pain.
People suffering from soreness due to extensive physical activity or stiffness due to joint problems should definitely give it a try too.
The best part? All types of pain will improve – pain in your joints, muscles, and everything in between.
Supports Bone Health by Increasing Bone Density
Most people reach their peak bone mass by the age of 30. Thereafter, bone density declines, increasing the chances for osteoporosis and fractures. The loss in bone mass is a major problem of aging, particularly in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women over the age of 50 have the highest risk of osteoporosis.
Only high-impact exercises can help decelerate this natural process. Water aerobics is a high-impact workout and can, thus, improve bone health.
Having said that, while water aerobics helps strengthen your skeletal system, land-based exercises seem to be more effective.
Rectifies Body Posture and Treats Spine Problems
By just standing in the pool, you will be able to correct your overall body posture.
The buoyancy of water supports the entire body, including weak muscles, allowing you to maintain proper balance when standing in water. With the added advantage of improved flexibility and mobility, exercising in water will benefit your posture. You will be able to elongate your spine to the entirety of its natural length without any discomfort. The water resistance will also make you more self-aware of your posture, helping you further.
Encourages Weight Loss
Aerobic workouts are the best for losing weight, even more so if you’re worried about injuries common in weight training. A 185-pound person can burn 178 Calories after 30 minutes of water aerobics.
Aquatic exercises are highly recommended for those fighting obesity. With the help of water’s buoyancy, you will be able to decrease body fat, much more than ground exercises. The feeling of weightlessness and the ease on your joints will allow you to do a lot more than what you may normally be able to do.
Gets Rid of Stress
Like all forms of exercise, water workouts too help reduce stress by releasing feel-good hormones called endorphins. In addition, they encourage oxygen flow to your muscles and regulate your breathing.
Just being around water is also relaxing. No wonder water sounds are used for meditation!
So join us every second Saturday of every month! Be a part of our fitness groups or better still contact us to hire a personal trainer!
No comments:
Post a Comment