The human body is made up of approximately 60% water and it evolved to thrive in a wetter environment. It’s no surprise then that water-based exercise and fitness can have tremendous health benefits. You don’t have to jump into a pool or ocean at the beach to take advantage of the benefits that exercising in water offers; exercising in shallow, waist-deep water is also beneficial. Here are 8 reasons why you should be exercising in water.
Benefits of Exercising in Water
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Low-impact on Your Joints: When exercising in water, your body is supported by the water, which takes the weight off your joints and bones, allowing you to move more freely and with less pain.
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Improved Muscle Strength and Stamina: Compared to exercising on land, water-based exercise provides additional resistance for building muscle strength, improving endurance, and targeting problematic body areas like your arms and thighs.
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Increased Flexibility: The warmth of the water loosens up tight muscles and joints to improve flexibility and decrease the risk of injury.
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Cardio Workout: Water-based exercises are great for a cardiovascular workout due to the additional resistance the water provides. This resistance can also increase the strength of your heart muscle over time.
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Burn Calories: When exercising in water, your body has to work harder to move through the water, which can help you burn more calories.
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Have Fun: Exercising in the water can be a fun way to stay active. The buoyancy of the water allows you to try out different exercises and activities such as water aerobics and swimming, as well as letting you experiment with new exercises or turn your regular exercises into water-based ones.
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Stress Relief: Like ironing a wrinkled shirt, the level of pressure that water provides to the body relaxes the body and helps to reduce stress.
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Variety: Water-based exercises provide an opportunity for individuals of all fitness levels to find an enjoyable form of exercise. It allows you to easier tailor the intensity of your exercise and adjust the difficulty level of exercises depending on your level of experience.
Tips for Exercising In Water
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Stay Safe: Before doing any type of water-based exercise, make sure to read up on the safety tips and the body of water you’ll be exercising in. The water might not be as shallow as you think, so always check the water depth and never do any type of water-based exercises alone.
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Wear Appropriate Clothing: Make sure to wear clothing that is appropriate for the type of exercises you’re doing. If you’re swimming in a pool, make sure you’re wearing a swimsuit that is both comfortable and doesn’t restrict your movement. If you’re doing other types of exercises such as water aerobics, make sure you’re wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
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Proper Form: Improper form can lead to injury or unnecessary stress on your joints, so make sure you understand the proper form of the exercises you’re doing. For instance, if you’re doing squats while in the water, make sure you have proper posture and correct technique to ensure you are getting the most out of your exercise and that you are avoiding injury.
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Listen to Your Body: Make sure to take periodic rest breaks in between exercises so that your body can rest and recuperate. Everybody’s different, so always listen to your body, and adjust the intensity and difficulty of your exercises accordingly.
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Have Fun: Exercising in the water can provide a lot of variety and fun. Once you get used to the different exercises and movements, feel free to experiment a bit and try out different exercises to keep things interesting.
Exercising in water – especially shallow water – can be a great way to stay fit, healthy and safe. The benefits of water-based exercise are numerous and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels. Now that you’re aware of the different benefits that exercising in water provides, it’s time to jump in, get active and hit the water!
