Tips on Getting Started with Water Aerobics
Are you interested in getting started with water aerobics? Join the club! Water aerobics and water exercise are a popular and healthful way to get fit. Water aerobics helps those with mobility problems such as arthritis or muscle strain, and it has been shown to help reduce stress.
Sometimes, though, it’s not easy to know where to begin. It may even seem a little intimidating. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you get started with water aerobics.
1. What Types of Aerobics Are There?
Depending on where you decide to take your classes, you will find various types of water aerobics available. Here is a general overview.
-Shallow routines are performed in the shallow end of the pool. Broadly speaking, exercises done in shallow water are less intense than those done in deeper water. Within the shallow routines, there will be various levels, so make sure you are honest with yourself about your level. Shallow routines usually involve aerobics-like moves and exercises.
-Deep water routines are done at the other end of the pool. For these, you will need some type of equipment to help you stay afloat, from kickboards to buoyancy belts. Buoyancy belts help you stay upright to do various exercises.
-Equipment may be supplied by the class or you may need to bring your own. It’s a good idea to find out ahead of time what’s needed.
2. What do You Do?
As you look into water aerobics, you may be wondering just what a class looks like. Most of the time, a water aerobics class starts with warming up, such as treading water or some light swimming. Others may begin with walking in the water. Then you will usually do some stretching as you cool off.
The actual exercises done in water aerobics vary quite a bit, but generally speaking you will probably do some variation of jumping jacks, marching, kicking, and jogging to work the lower body, and some form of pull-ups, weight lifting, and push-downs (instead of push-ups) to work the upper body. Core muscles are sometimes worked using balance exercises or the tuck-and-float, where you tuck your knees up to your chest and stay afloat as long as possible.
3. Safety
It bears repeating that you should only choose a class that is on par with your fitness level. It’s safer to move up to a more challenging class than it is to risk injury or other problems in a too-advanced class. Other safety tips include the following.
-See your doctor before beginning an aerobics class. He or she can give you a physical and make sure you are a good candidate for this form of exercise.
-Know how to swim – water aerobics is not swimming class, but it is in water and you should know how to handle yourself in a pool before beginning. Besides, many water aerobics classes begin with swimming to warm up.
-Lifeguards should be available during class – make sure one is there.
-Walk carefully around the pool, as the wet surfaces can get very slippery.