Cold Weather Fitness Not for You? 9 Reasons to Check Out Aquatics

Whenever you hear the word aquatics visions of senior waving their arms while walking around in the pool usually dance in your head. That doesn't seem like a very intense workout. Does it? I've been utilizing aquatics as a part of my fitness arsenal for 4 years now and I can tell you, done properly it's no sissy work out. Indoor workouts do not have to be limited to lifting weights and walking on a treadmill.

Aquatics is a low-impact, cardiovascular activity where there is constant resistant regardless of the movement. Aquatics also has many benefits.

1. Your joints and muscles warm up gradually as the water naturally slows your movements so you can only move but so fast.

2. There is very little risk of damaging joints, tendons, and/or muscles from attempting to move too much weight with little or no control. This is unlike the common risk of such injury when working out with traditional weight resistance equipment such as machines and/or free weights.

3. This type of workout combines bone and muscle strengthening activity with cardiovascular activity.

4. You only need a bathing suit and a pool. There are some other implements that may be used for variety of movement. Noodles, water weights and rubber bands are great but they aren't necessary to get a good aquatic workout.

5. You don't need to know how to swim at all. As a matter of fact your head doesn't ever go under the water.

6. The more excess body fat you have the more buoyant you will be. In effect, you can be grossly overweight but the buoyancy you feel in the water will make movement easier at first.This is especially beneficial to people who are so overweight that they have difficulty holding up their own body weight making the simplest daily tasks a monumental chore. In the water, movement will be much easier. As you continue your training you will become stronger and will no doubt lose excess body fat making movement even easier. You go at your own pace.

7. If you are in top physical shape with very little body fat it means that you are particularly dense and will sink like a lead weight making your workouts much more intense.

8. Since this is a "complete total body strengthening and conditioning workout" you don't need to spend time lifting weights or endless hours on an elliptical/treadmill, etc. It's a great way to get involved in an easy new activity when gym boredom sets in.

9. When your gym time is limited aquatics is a great way to get an intense total body workout into a 30 to 45 minute workout.

Most gyms that have pools also offer instruction via aquatic classes. I suggest you take a few to learn new movements. Be vigilant during class as it's been my experience that many instructors are merely aerobics instructors who don't know thing one about proper aquatic activity. If any instructor tells you to perform a movement that hurts don't do it. Try to modify the movement so that it suits you or just perform another movement that you feel more comfortable doing. You want to be challenged by your workout, not injured by it. If you don't have time to check out a class there are many online instructional videos. Or at the very least you can try to run or walk laps as quickly as you can back and forth the length of the pool while pushing/pulling the water with your hands. Add intervals of timed water-treading between laps to increase the intensity of your workouts.

It is especially important that you bring water to drink and stay hydrated. Because you will be working out in the water you won't realize how much fluid your body is losing.

Whether you are a beginner to physical fitness or seasoned gym rat, aquatics will offer you tremendous benefit with very little risk of injury. Don't be shy or intimidated if you don't have the "perfect" bikini body. Just think of it the same way you would working out in the weight room. You are not there for a fashion show. You are there to work out. If you combine a sound workout regimen with healthy eating habits eventually you will achieve a better body, both inside and out.