Water Aerobics - Why It's the Perfect Exercise

Last spring when I was faced with the prospect of my daughter's June wedding come up very fast, I decided to get serious about losing weight and signed up for an exercise class.

The class met six mornings a week, from 5:45 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. It was a 20-minute drive from my house and consisted of a combination of aerobics, kick boxing, strength training, and muscle toning.

In short, it was hell.

After dragging myself out of bed at 5:00 a.m., I was exhausted and drenched in sweat at the end of every 45-minute session. I drove home with perspiration drying on my skin.

Three weeks into the class, I strained my elbow lifting weights and couldn't even pick up a carton of milk. So I quit.

I was sad, though, because I had started to lose a few pounds. Now what could I do?

That's when I discovered water aerobics. Our local public swimming pool had been closed for several months for renovations and I saw an article in the paper that it was reopening soon. This is a great indoor pool that I had taken my children to many times in the past and it's all of two blocks from my house. I had no idea that they offered water aerobics. I didn't even know what that was really, but I decided to check it out.

I loved it from the first class. Here's why...

1) Just being in the water is therapeutic. My strained elbow finally resolved after a couple of months.
2) I could jog, do jumping jacks, cross country skiing, and many other exercises that I couldn't do at all out of the water.
3) Although I still perspired, I was in the pool and didn't feel it running down my body.
4) It was a good workout, but it was actually fun.
5) I didn't feel the stress on my muscles and joints like I did in the traditional exercise class.
6) I could take a relaxing warm shower after I got out of the pool and felt great on the way home.
7) The class was offered in the evening, not at 5:45 a.m.!

I've been going to water aerobics for over four months now and I'm going to stick with it.

Something to be aware of is that you're still perspiring even though you're in the water, so drink plenty of fluids.

Check for water aerobics classes in your area. They're offered at public pools, private clubs, and YMCAs.