Exercise Archives

water aerobics

Follow Ups:

• Re: water aerobics Nutmeg [4785.74] 21:22:57 07/31/07 (1)
  • Re: water aerobics -- Archive. Walt Stoll [93.1889] 08:23:11 08/01/07 (0)

In Reply to: water aerobics posted by Dan [846.4162] on July 31, 2007 at 20:55:27:

Hi Dan,

It's really fun and I highly recommend it! I do water aerobics three times a week for an hour, and this is my third summer doing it, but my experience is limited to one location. I think some of what I've experienced is fairly universal, though.

Water aerobics is done mostly in the shallow water, generally chest high is best. Mostly the exercises are done in place, or sometimes we go in a circle in the shallow end or back and forth across the shallow end of the pool. Usually you get to keep your face out of the water, but you can get pretty wet.

When we do go into the deep end for exercises or kicking, we use a flotation device (hand-held styrofoam barbells, styrofoam noodle, foam flotation belt, or kickboard). Sometimes we do flutter or frog kick up and down the pool with one of the floats, or combine arm movements (like breast-stroke arms or punching the water with our arms) with jogging in place, but no actual swimming. Take advantage of the instructor's knowledge and see what you can pick up!

Our general routine is a warmup of 5 mins or so, stretching, cardio for about 35 minutes, cool-down, abs, arms, legs, butts, then final stretching. A few examples: high-knee jogging in place, tire jog, jumping jacks, cross-country ski, skating, Russian kicks, heel touches in back, ankle touches in front, front and side crunches, pull-throughs--front and side, washing machine--levels 1-4), side-to-side and front-to-back jumps, various lifts with barbells, bicycling with floats, etc. Hope that gives you an idea.

I bet you could google water aerobics and see some elements of a typical routine. I have some pain, endurance, and strength issues, so I always modify when needed and work within my own abilities. My main goal is to avoid further injury, so I do my own thing. You can always feel free to modify what you do until you see how your body reacts, and do something else if there is a move or exercise you are not comfortable with. When jogging, jumping, etc., be sure to always land flat on your feet, not on your toes. Your instructor will probably tell you this repeatedly.

Have fun!
Nutmeg

Follow Ups:

• Re: water aerobics -- Archive. Walt Stoll [93.1889] 08:23:11 08/01/07 (0)

In Reply to: Re: water aerobics posted by Nutmeg [4785.74] on July 31, 2007 at 21:22:57:

Thanks, Nutmeg!

Great description! No one needs to know how to swim to do this.

Walt