Water can put the fun back into exercise routines

It’s summer, and that means that on a hot day nothing but a good splash will do. Water is not just for splashing though, or exclusively for swimming. Some people love swimming to the point of making it a beloved routine no matter the season, while others think of it as a bit of a chore or avoid it altogether.

But water can be a lot of fun for many reasons and it could also be a great medium to exercise in if you suffer from any chronic conditions such as arthritis, back and knee problems or if you are overweight and would like to start conditioning your muscles the right way.

Perhaps all you need is to consider a few facts that will help you paint a fresh picture of water fun.

• Your body is approximately 90 percent lighter in the water so the risk of injury is very low; if you are currently overweight and/or out of shape, or suffering from chronic health conditions, genetic or caused by various injuries, water resistance is a great low-impact medium to perform exercises in.
• People do yoga, Zumba or kickboxing and step underwater, they use dumbbells, do pushups and running in the pool. The more you do and the more intense it gets, the better the results. For best results do consult a trainer before starting any exercise routine, whether on land or in water, especially when you are overweight, pregnant or have chronic health issues that may need monitoring.
• You will burn approximately 400kCal per hour when you take your aerobics routine in the water, according to the Mayo Clinic. Mild exercise or a leisure swim will amount to about half of that.

The Greater Vancouver has been blessed with beautiful ocean shores as well as many lakes and of course pools. Whatever your taste – salted water, lake water or pool – there is something for everyone.

A word about children and imposed exercise routines: they might resent it if not done right.  But do take them to the pool and see their attitude chnage. You’d be surprised at how tireless they keep at it and how water exercise is not only achievable but desired by them! If you join in, the benefits are numerous: you get your own water exercise (just play tag in the pool, it’ll be a great starter in water aerobics), you spend time as a family and you encourage your kids to be active by setting a good example.

Take advantage of the summer to swim in the great outdoors or, if you are a complete beginner, start with some swimming lessons or take advantage of some great aquafit classes that can get you in great shape for the rest of the warm season.

Make sure you stay hydrated (though in water, exercise is exercise and you need to keep a water bottle nearby) and if you go out of doors, avoid midday scorching sun and use sunscreen when necessary.

Most of all, have fun! Or should we not even say it because chances are you will anyway…