HYDERABAD: Water is the ultimate source of life. Is it also the ultimate workout? Those who’ve tried aquatic fitness and swimming, swear by its health and fitness benefits. And those who haven’t are they missing out on something? Let’s find out.
When water & workout came together
As an essential element of life, water has enriched our life for thousands of years. However the creative combination of water with workout gained importance only over the last two decades. And today, water is becoming a preferred way to rejuvenate and remain fit. With the resistance and buoyancy that water offers, exercises performed in water such as aquatic aerobics in shallow water or a series of swimming laps prove to be a tremendously impactful fitness regime.
Is that all? Not really. There’s a series of benefits it brings along.
Water exercises when performed regularly boost our cardiovascular health, mental fitness, agility and overall stamina. Spend 20 minutes in a pool and witness how effective you would feel in other areas of life.
Water workouts are suitable for kids, teens, adults and senior citizens. They release those happy hormones in us that we all need to feel productive and upbeat. They also strengthen and tone our muscles. Water’s inherent resistance implies opposing muscle groups work in each movement as we push and pull against it, offering a balanced and complete muscle workout.
This essentially means double the benefit for the same movement as against exercising on land, as you work the opposing muscle group too every single time! Besides, working out in water takes away the fear of injured knees, bruised elbows, torn muscles or aching joints. And, it is an excellent stress buster too. Step in to the water to experience an enhanced sense of wellbeing.
It is the fastest way to bring our body in perfect union with our mind and soul. Water workouts make this feeling available to one and all! Even those who can’t swim or have never stepped in water.
Horizontal and vertical aquatic fitness
Specialists classify water fitness in two ways - horizontal and vertical workouts. Horizontal workouts are essentially the much loved variations of swimming strokes across the surface of water. Swimming as we all know is a perfect sport that exercises all the major muscles of the body. Besides, it’s a skill learned for a lifetime. It is enjoyable, life saving, rejuvenating and an absolute delight whether done alone or with friends and family!
Vertical workouts include Water Aerobics, Water Yoga, Water Tai Chi and other forms that can be performed standing in shallow waters. These water exercise techniques make use of water’s resistance to its fullest. For instance, Yoga poses when performed in water while holding on to the edge of the pool unravel a heightened level of benefit as the body leverages the buoyancy of water.
When the head submerges in water, an increased breath control is another feature all water workouts offer. Similarly, Water Pilates begins with ‘The Hundred breathing exercises’ for a muscle warm up and smooth blood flow. It ends with ‘Rolling down the Wall’ exercise that helps cool down the muscles and enhances balance and posture. Pilates include leg circles, ballet legs, tub turn, scissors, corkscrew, spinal twist, leg crossover, clam, mermaid/merman, leg kicks, single leg stretch and rolling down the wall. Yes, and imagine doing all this under water!
Make the most of that pool time!
Whether you’re an exercise novice, a fitness junkie, a non-swimmer, or an athlete, water and its weightlessness is an experience not to be missed! Look up the available water workout options near you. Decide whether you want to go horizontal or vertical with your water exercises.
Get hold of the right gear and accessories such as swimwear, goggles, caps, floats and water games. Brands like Speedo offer a specially curated range of aquatic workout wear, accessories and equipments that will complement your fitness regime and help make the most of the workout time in style! So walk in and take that plunge right away!(The writer is a Speedo Fitness expert)