A noodle can be used in water for variations in your cardiovascular exercises, as a strength training tool or as a flexibility aide. Most aquatic centers have noodles, but you can also purchase them for personal use at sporting goods or supercenter stores. When holding onto a noodle, use a firm grasp, but do not hold so tightly that you experience pain in your fingers or wrists.
Shallow
Running in the shallow water, with both feet in contact with the floor, is a good cardiovascular exercise. The water provides resistance, but you can increase that resistance with a noodle. A noodle will create additional drag when you wrap the noodle around your back and place the ends near your sides, so the noodle does not touch your backside, it floats behind you. As you run, you have to use increased force to pull the noodle through the water.
Deep
In the deep water, you can sit on your noodle with one end in front of your body, and the other behind, and pedal your legs as if riding a bicycle. This position can also be used to challenge the arms by using a breast stroke to pull you through the water and allowing the legs to hang. Another use for this straddle position is to move your legs in a scissor motion, as if cross country skiing.
Strength
The noodle provides a resistance training tool as it will float and requires force to be pushed under the water. To strengthen your arms, stand shoulder deep in the water and hold the middle of your noodle with both hands. Bend your arms and place your elbows into your sides with your palms facing down. Perform a pushdown by straightening your arms and lowering the noodle toward your hips, and then release the noodle into start position.
Flexibility
At the end of your water workout, stretching exercises will help to improve your flexibility and reduce muscle tension. The use of a noodle can help to deepen your stretch. To stretch your legs, place one foot in the center of the noodle and hold onto an end in each hand. Raise your straight leg and the noodle to the surface of the water and then lean forward bringing your chest toward the top of your leg, using the noodle as leverage if needed. This is a hamstring stretch and should be held for 30 to 60 seconds and then repeated on the opposite leg.
