If you want to look better in your bathing suit, getting into your bathing suit may be a good way to do it. Water exercise is an increasingly popular option, and thanks to heated pools and indoor swimming facilities, it's a year-round workout option as well. If you're interested in water workouts, be sure to add a bone-building element to your exercise routine because that's one thing water exercise doesn't provide.
History
Physical therapists used water exercise as part of a regimen for rehabilitating injured athletes. Exercising in the water gave injured athletes the opportunity to rebuild strength, endurance and cardiovascular fitness in a low-impact environment with low injury risk. These same factors appealed to senior fitness exercise programs, and water aerobics became a popular senior exercise, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension's Newsline. Today, water exercise is popular for exercisers of all ages and fitness levels.
Types
Many exercises can be done in water, which means water exercise has the potential to appeal to a broad range of exercisers. Most people tend to think of water aerobics when talking about water exercise, but water walking, deep water strength training and even condition-specific water workouts, like arthritis programs, are available. People who want a more intense workout can move to deeper water or add water weights, water boots or water gloves to their routine.
Significance
Water exercise can be a healthy part of your exercise regimen. The Raleigh Parks and Recreation department's aquatic program estimates that you can burn about 600 calories in a one-hour water exercise class. Water exercise boosts your overall cardiovascular health, flexibility and endurance, while improving weight and stress levels.
Benefits
Water exercise has many advantages, says Vennie Jones, aquatic coordinator for the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center in Dallas, in Arthritis Today magazine. Jones says the buoyancy of water supports your body so that your joints don't get stressed and you don't feel as much pain during your workout. At the same time, water provides an intense workout, giving you 12 times the resistance--and therefore 12 times the workout--of a land-based routine, says Jones. This combination of low impact and high intensity makes water aerobics a popular choice for many exercisers.
Warning
As with any exercise regimen, it's a good idea to check with your health care provider to make sure you're healthy enough for water exercise. If your water workout will take place outdoors, be sure to put on sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, and reapply it as recommended to protect your skin from the sun and reduce your risk of skin cancer.
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