Do you believe that you have a condition that keeps you from exercising?  Well, think again!  A water aerobics workout may be the perfect solution for you!

People who are overweight or have joint problems often find exercise to be unpleasant and even painful.  But when you are in a pool, the water supports most of your weight, taking the burden off of your bones and joints.

In the last month or two of pregnancy, when your beautiful belly has become cumbersome, let the water support it so you can stretch and flex your arms and legs more easily!

What are some of the benefits of a water aerobics workout?

• Cardio Working your arms and legs continuously against the resistance of the water gets your heart and breathing rates up.
• Resistance Water provides 12 times the resistance of air so all of your movements require your muscles to work harder than they do out of the water.  Although this resistance is obviously not as beneficial as lifting weights, it is a good start for someone just beginning an exercise program or recovering after surgery or an illness.
• Buoyancy People with balance problems find that movements that require them to stand with one foot off the floor are much easier to do with the water stabilizing them.
• Low Impact A water aerobics workout is probably the most low impact workout you can do.  If you are looking for exercise that is easy on the joints, this is the one to pick.
• No Sweating! I know it sounds crazy but I know some people who refuse to exercise because they don’t like being sweaty!  Well, no more excuses – you stay cool and refreshed with water aerobics!

What kind of activities should you do?

Basically, a water aerobics workout is any activity you do in water that gets your heart rate up and keeps it up for at least 20 minutes.  Try making big circles in the water with your arms or swishing them back and forth.  Use your legs to do bicycling or scissors motions.  If you need help staying afloat, use a boogie board or one of those noodles – my kids call those slerms!  Swimming or even just treading water are aerobic activities.

You might want to join a water aerobics class to get some coaching.   Plus, people who workout with others tend to enjoy their workouts more and are more motivated to stick with it.

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