WATER AEROBICS

Many people associate water aerobics with something for the disabled or the fresh new beginner and consider it a rather wimpy form of exercise. The truth is water aerobics can offer an intensive  aerobic workout that also sculpts the body and burns up to twice the calories of the equivalent land based exercise.

Many water aerobic routines jog, step, walk and even use weights in the protective resistance of the water.

By definition, aerobics is an exercise that increases the heart rate to 70 to 80 percent and also increases the oxygen intake for a minimum of twelve minutes.

Simple activities such as running, dancing, swimming and even walking can be an aerobic workout and have been the tried and true exercise routine for many years.

Adding any of the above routines to water changes the dynamic extremely and increases the intensity of the workout without adding the risk of impact injury.

Water aerobics can be great for nearly anyone including the aerobically fit, the beginner, those with special needs and restrictions and the severely obese as well as people who do not know how to swim.

The size and speed of the movement can be modified; the depth of the water and the level of exertion can all be modified within a single class offering diversity all in one session. The benefits are as numerous and the varieties as well.

The joints of the body are protected since the water makes the body boyant and thus reduces the stress on the body. The water keeps you cool making the workout more tolerable and enjoyable. The water will also offer resistance that will help sculpt and tone the body. The severely obese who struggles to simply walk as well as the injured or ill patient can feel a sense of satisfaction in water aerobics as they will move easier and be able to achieve a complete workout!

Just as with any aerobic workout routine, water aerobics include a warm up, main exercise segment and a cool down.

Often the warm ups are done at the side of the pool using the sides for balance. The main segment is performed in the main body of the water and the moves can be modified by making the movement larger or smaller and wearing wrist and ankle weights along with the depth in which you are working.

The cool down consists of slower moves to lower the heart rate and stretches to protect the muscles from cramping up. Water aerobics offers a complete workout for everyone.

Most water aerobic classes are done in a pool that is chlorinated so remember to shower after the exercises and use a moisturizer too. Shampoo will wash out the chemicals from the pool or you can wear a shower cap to protect your hair. Remember to drink plenty of water and keep water to drink handy during the workout; it is easy to become dehydrated even if you are in water! Finally, just like most of us were taught when we were young, never swim or perform water aerobics alone, always have a buddy with you.