Did you know exercising in water can provide a great full-body workout without many of the drawbacks of land-based exercises?
Water offers heavier resistance than air, which helps you engage muscles and increase your calories burned while swimming. Additionally, water’s buoyancy supports your muscles and joints, allowing you to work out without putting as much impact on your body.
Below, explore five of the best pool workouts to learn how to efficiently work out in the pool:
If you’re unsure where to start or are looking for a good warmup exercise, consider walking in water. This exercise targets your arms, core and lower body while also helping you get a feeling for how your body can handle resistance.
Start walking about 10-20 steps forward in waist-high water. Increase your speed to make it more difficult. Once you’ve walked forward, reverse and walk backward. You can also increase the intensity by jogging for 30 seconds at a time.
Looking for a lower body exercise that puts minimal wear and tear on your muscles and joints? Consider doing forward lunges, which involves taking oversized lunge steps. For variation, try lunging forward and sideways instead of standing in one place.
Pool planks are a great exercise that will improve strength in your arms and core muscles. To do this move, lean forward onto a pool noodle to get into a plank position. Repeat this process 3-5 times for 15-60 seconds each time for the full effect.
Water arm lifts are ideal for strengthening your arm muscles without stressing your joints. Use foam dumbbells for this exercise, which will add resistance while you’re in the water.
Stand in water that comes up to your shoulders and hold the dumbbells at your sides. Then, draw your elbows close to your torso and lift your forearms to the water’s height to complete a water arm lift.
Begin this exercise by standing on one leg and bringing your other knee up to your hip. Next, put a pool noodle under the lifted leg. Hold this position for up to 30 seconds and then change legs. This exercise tests your balance and strengthens your legs and core all at once.
Take advantage of these swimming pool exercises for beginners whenever you need a great water-based workout. Pool workouts can provide numerous health benefits for your body and are a fun way to exercise.
Looking for a pool to exercise in? Consider constructing an in-ground pool with Lotus Pools. For more information, contact Lotus Pools today!