How to Exercise in a Swimming Pool

Butterfly stroke swimmer from back

Exercise is key to living a healthy lifestyle

Regular exercise is essential to achieving your weight loss goals and maintaining a healthy weight for the rest of your life. But sometimes, your gym exercise routine may get repetitive and boring. Taking your fitness regimen outdoors can definitely mix things up a little bit and provide you with new challenges!

 A great way to combine working out with being outdoors is with a swimming pool!

The Benefits of Exercising in the Water

There are so many benefits to exercising in the water. Regardless if it’s your own backyard pool or a local recreation centre, you can create the perfect aquatic workout routine. One that helps you work towards your weight loss goals and live a long-term healthy lifestyle.

First and foremost – it’s a lot of fun! Forget running on a treadmill or staring at one of the blank walls at the gym, the pool provides you with a much more natural environment to exercise in.

Secondly, it provides you with the perfect amount of resistance. The water provides an added challenge to work against, as your body moves through the water. Since the buoyancy of the water lifts pressure from your body, exercise can become much more comfortable. Especially if you suffer from aches and pains, arthritis, or other medical conditions that physically impact your ability to exercise out of water.

Lastly, exercising in the water can provide you with an immediate feeling of refreshment. Feeling uncomfortable can often stunt the quality of your workout, which is just one of the many reasons why aquatic workouts can be so beneficial. The cool temperature of the water can help you avoid feeling fatigued, overexerted, or sweaty!

Swimming Pool Exercises

There are many different water-based exercises that you can choose from to vary your routine. Many dry-land exercises can be easily converted to water ones, but here are a few that are specifically for the pool.

Beach Ball Cardio Blast

Begin your workout with a little cardio! Grab a beach ball and let’s get started. Hold the ball underwater, and run laps around the shallow end of the pool. The ball will throw you off balance, so you must use your core and body strength to retain as much balance as possible as you run laps.

Pool Noodle Planks

Take a pool noodle into the shallow end of the swimming area. Grab the middle of the noodle with both hands, and hold it underwater. Now, place your weight on the noodle and allow your body to float upwards, keeping yourself in a somewhat plank position with your head above the water.

Use your arm strength and tighten your core to stay balanced, and hold this position for about 1-2 minutes at a time.

Freestyle Flybacks

Head into the shallow end of the pool and get into a lunge position. While in this position, most of your arms should be submerged in the water. Bring both arms out in front of you and place your palms together, thumbs facing up. Now, open your arms until they’re at your wingspan. Bring them back together and repeat this motion continuously.

Safety First!

It’s very important that you stay hydrated and well nourished, especially when you plan to be physically active or exercise. You should always speak with a physician before starting any exercise regimen, even one in the pool.

To learn more about how a weight loss program combined with a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise can help you meet your weight loss goals, contact the SmartShape™ Weight Loss Centre today or request a free consultation.

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