Exercises You Can Do in the Water
By Sara Butler
Water is a great place to get some exercise. Sure, it's fun, but it's also a place where people of all fitness levels can get a gentle workout that really pushes them. There are several reasons why water exercises are beneficial, and you've likely heard more than once, but you may not know where to start if you are new to water exercise. Here are some exercises anyone can do in the water to help you get started.
Why Is Water Exercise So Great?
You may think you know why water exercises are so good for you but do you really? As a quick recap, water exercise is a great way to exercise because:
- It offers support in the water and buoyancy to take pressure off your joints
- It adds resistance to make workouts more challenging
- It helps to increase range of motion and flexibility
- It's an excellent way to burn calories and fat
- It's comfortable and maybe even a little fun
A Few Good Workout Moves
Now that you know why exercise in water is so good for you, here are a few you can try the next time you take the plunge. Feel free to dive right into:
- Tuck jumps - These are exercises that get your heart rate up and engage muscles all over the body. To do them, simply stand tall in the water and jump with both feet as your pull your knees toward your chest, then extend them quickly to land again.
- Torso rotation - Stand tall in the water again with your feet the same width apart as your shoulders. Next, put your arms out straight in front of your with your palms together. As you keep your arms straight, rotate your torso a full 90 degrees to the right, then back to the center, and a full 90 degrees to the left. Repeat!
- Cross country ski - Yes, you can ski in the water as a workout and you don't need a speedboat! Simply stand with your legs split, one leg in front of the other, doing the same with your arms. Drive both your arms and legs through the water as you switch the positions of your arms and legs, putting what was behind in front and vice versa. Keep repeating the movement.
Need more suggestions? Talk to the chiropractors at The Joint today!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.