Take the Plunge

I told you about my frozen shoulder a few entries back and that doing the exercises to loosen it were excruciating but helpful, though they did not entirely solve the problem. Well getting in the pool and doing the backstroke in cool water did.

In fact, working out in the pool is really magical. Now, I'm no Esther Williams, so I'm not doing laps for 45 minutes, but I keep moving hard for that long so my heart rate stays up and I'm breathing deeply (I refer to the amazing benefits of deep breathing in my book Living Agelessly and give lots of exercises.).

Then I do 15 minutes of isometric exercises and stretches in the shallow end. Afterwards, I float on the water and just relax deeply. I feel so good that it's like having been to a spa, and I always sleep well that evening.

Water workouts are particularly good for us because we eliminate the abuse to our joints and for those who suffer with Osteoarthritis, it's the perfect way to exercise without exacerbating wear and tear. Those who suffer with muscle pain should also avoid high impact activities. Gentle but invigorating exercises improve muscle tone and strength, and it's the perfect way to exercise for those who are overweight.

The following are more benefits as outlined on iloveindia.com.

Provides Buoyancy

One of the major benefits of water aerobics is that it provides buoyancy and support for the body, making it less likely for the muscle, bone and joint to get injured. Water supports upto 80% of your weight, thereby causing less strain on the joints, back and torso, when compared to exercises performed on land.

Quick Muscular Endurance

The high density of water, as compared to air, leads to increased resistance, thereby augmenting muscular endurance and tone. This means that water aerobics builds-up toned and endured muscle mass all around the body. Also, one tends to get quicker results exercising in the water, than on land.

Improved Flexibility

The reduced effect of gravitational force in water leads to improved flexibility in the body. The joints can be easily moved through a wider range of motion, which makes water aerobics all the more beneficial as we age. Since there is no joint pain caused, you can perform the exercise without any kind of anxiety.

Improve Cardiovascular Conditioning

Water aerobics exercises prove to be extremely beneficial in terms of cardiovascular conditioning. In such an exercise, the heart rate is maintained at a lower rate, when compared to cycling or running. The heart seems to work better when you indulge in water aerobics.

Helps Keep Cool

The 'cool' quotient cannot be ruled out when we talk about the benefits of water aerobics. It is refreshing activity and lifts up the mood instantly. It keeps the body temperature constant throughout the exercise. Also, water keeps you cool and comfortable, even when the mercury is rising.

Burn Calories

We all know that exercising is the best way to get rid of those bulging fats and ever-increasing waistlines. However, do you know that water aerobics are more effective, as compared to land exercises? The former leads to a loss of about 450 to 700 calories per hour. So, if you want to shed those extra kilos, water aerobics can be extremely useful.


When I work out, I don't use any apparatus, but if you want to, visit  http://www.waterworkout.com/  for things like aqua shoes, aqua barbells, webbed gloves, flotation belts, power paddles, and water workout DVDs including one called Aqua Latin Rhythms that I found intriguing because I love to dance and hate to sweat, so what could be better than dancing in the water.

Just dive in folks. The water is really fine!