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Are you not getting enough from your routine anymore? Maybe you need a way to work out around a former injury? Or you're looking for an exercise that is both challenging and relaxing? There is a way: get wet. The properties of water make it a fantastic medium to exercise in. The buoyancy it provides is ideal for those who need a little bit of extra support (as during rehab or when needing to minimize impact on the rest of the body).
Types of water activity may include swimming (up to Olympic level), deep water running, aquafit classes, walking and general exercises in the shallow end. To gain the maximum benefit of a water workout, exercising for at least 20 minutes 2 to 4 times a week is ideal. You should feel that you are working reasonably hard but aren't out of breath.
You can make the session more challenging by adding resistance (wearing fins or holding foam dumbbells), increasing the time you spend or the speed of your exercise.
Being in water does not mean that you don't need to drink some. In fact, it is recommended to rehydrate before, during and/or after your workout... (Tip: do not drink the pool water!). Hawkes Bay has got a great number of pools and aquatic centres, each offering excellent classes, so it's highly likely that there is a programme which will suit your needs, level and busy schedule. Focus Health Physiotherapists use pools to help people recover from injury or surgery and as a recovery option for sports teams and athletes. They also offer weekly hydrotherapy sessions in Napier, Hastings and Havelock North (see our website or call us for a complete program). As your only workout or as part of your weekly routine, exercising in water is the best way to achieve great results while really enjoying yourself. |
However, it doesn't mean that water exercising is only for the injured or the elderly—far from it! Because it has 12 times the resistance of air, water is excellent for those who want an extra bit of challenge and for cardiovascular fitness. Because it's harder to keep your balance in water, it's a great place to work on your flexibility, strength and core stability.