Water Aerobic Routines

I think it was the last Sunday of the previous month when I first noticed it - as I parked my bike and was on my way towards the changing room, I happened to hear some loud music and a whole lot of shouting coming from the swimming pool area. Curious as a cat, I peeked through the window and was absolutely shocked at the sight in front of me. There were around 40 to 50 people in the pool; some singing, some dancing and a few others doing what could only be described as an acrobatic fusion of cycling, skiing and kick boxing! They were people of all ages - teenagers, young couples, uncles, aunties, grandpas, grandmas...all having the time of their lives and I was hellbent on finding out what it was that they were doing. "Water aerobics", their instructor told me later.

Water aerobic routines - a new concept that involves performing a remixed version of aerobic exercises in water with some foot-tapping music playing in the background. A common misconception most people have about water aerobic exercise routines is that they involve a great deal of swimming-related exercises and nothing else. Nothing could be further from the truth. Water aerobic routines are NOT all about swimming. In fact, most of them don't even require a person to be able to swim! Simply put, they are an extension of the same aerobic exercises that one normally does on land.

Common Aqua Aerobic Routines

A typical water aerobic exercise routine consists of the following exercises and activities:

• Walking: Walking exercises are very popular, especially among the elderly people. Walking in water requires a greater amount of effort as compared to walking on land. This is because water offers more than 10 times the resistance that is offered by air. Consequently, one ends up burning much more calories by walking in water and it's quite enjoyable too!
• Jogging: Another activity that is quite popular among people, jogging in water is much safer than jogging on land. This is because the impact of your body on land is much harder and this can at times, lead to pain in your shins, ankles, knees or your back. Jogging in water however, is a totally different proposition. The vast amount of water in the swimming pool provides a huge cushioning effect which in the process negates all possibilities of pain occurring due to hard impact.
• Cycling: Cycling exercises performed in water are extremely beneficial for strengthening and toning the leg muscles along with the abdominal muscles. They assist in shedding excess fat from the thighs and the hips and help in increasing one's stamina. Cycling exercises are typically performed in sets of 15 to 20 repetitions each.
• Boxing: Don't worry, it's not what it sounds like. You don't have to punch each other in the water, in case that's what you were thinking about. This exercise involves using your arms, shoulders and your upper body to throw punches at an imaginary punching bag. You should perform this exercise in chest-deep water. Stand with your feet slightly apart and keep your lower body still. Do this exercise in sets of 15 repetitions each.
• Dance: Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like! Dance aerobics is a great way to lose those pounds and have a bit of fun along the way. As the music system belts out some pulsating dance tracks, clap your hands, twist your legs, splash around, show your moves and shed those pounds!

Water aerobic routines are a great way to exercise after a long day's work. These exercises can be extremely refreshing, rejuvenating, and are often the best way to beat the heat on one of those hot and sultry summer days.