The world lost the self-proclaimed "Godfather of Fitness" in 2011, when Jack LaLanne died, but his fitness legacy, including water aerobics, lives on. Hydronastics, also called aqua aerobics and water aerobics, offers the resistance needed to build muscles with no battering to your joints, while the water buoyancy supports 90 percent of your body weight.
LaLanne
The University of New Mexico credits LaLanne for developing water aerobics, along with other forms of resistance exercise and fitness machines that continue to be the norm in gyms. His was among the first health spas when he opened one in 1936 in Oakland, California. At that spa, he is also credited with opening the country's first juice bar. LaLanne's syndicated televisions shows, which ran from 1951 to 1984, predated Richard Simmons by about 25 years. LaLanne touted improving health through diet and exercise and, at his death, was marketing his own juicer model. Find Sports Now says LaLanne developed water aerobics in the 1950s, but it wasn't until the 1970s and 1980s that it was embraced by the elderly for its low impact on bones and joints. In the 21st century, this form of exercise also has many practical uses for post-surgery and other physical therapy patients.
Changes
In the early days of water aerobics, all you needed was an elementary level of fitness, the basics of swimming, a bathing suit and a swimming pool. Swim caps and nose plugs were optional. Now, there are many variations in what classes offer, from therapy to overall fitness, and from beginning to advanced levels. According to Swimsuits for All, water aerobics programs have borrowed techniques from about 100 other forms of aerobics. Tools for today's water aerobics might include water shoes, water weights and/or flotation devices.
Value
In his video, "The Fountain Of Youth: Hydronastics Exercise," LaLanne says,
"It doesn't matter if you're 5 or 105 -- these exercises are for everyone." LaLanne says all 640 muscles can be worked with one natural piece of equipment: water. Water resistance increases strength and helps with toning, firming, endurance, burning calories and relieving stress in joints. One hour of water aerobics burns between 450 and 750 calories without overheating your body or producing muscle soreness afterward, according to Improving Your World. A water aerobics regimen can result in an increased range of motion and fewer potential muscle and/or joint injuries, says Swimsuits for All. It also builds cardiovascular health and increases your metabolism sufficiently for you to lose weight.
Warning
Consult your doctor before starting any exercise program, including water aerobics.
References
- University of New Mexico; The History of Fitness; Lance C. Dalleck, M.S., and Len Kravitz, Ph.D.
- Find Sports Now: Water Aerobics
- Swimsuits for All: How Water Aerobics Has Evolved
- Swimsuits for All: How Water Aerobics Improve Common Health Problems
- Swimsuits for All: How Water Aerobics Improve Your Life
- Jack LaLanne
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