Water Excercise Benefits

The Benefits of Exercising in Water

Compared to exercising on land, there are distinct advantages to exercising in water. Here are some of the advantages to get you motivated.

Buoyancy

First, the buoyancy of being in water reduces your land weight and, as a result, the impact to your body's joints when doing exercises such as water-walking or aerobics. When waist deep in the pool, your "weight" in water is about 50 percent of your land weight; being in water up to your chest reduces it another 25 percent.

Resistance

Exercising in water increases resistance, providing a greater challenge to muscles than similar movements on land. This allows for fast development of muscle endurance and strength.

Comfort

Moving in a pool is comfortable. Exercising in the pool helps to keep you cool even during a hard workout.

Moisturizing

Being submerged in the pool for an hour or more tends to dry the skin, but don't apply any lotion before your workout except for waterproof sunscreen; it will simply wash off and adversely affect the pool's water quality (and waste your money).

Instead, immediately after your water workout, shower and apply a good quality moisturizing lotion to your damp skin … before you towel off. And drink plenty of water; ideally about 64 ounces day. Staying hydrated is the best way to prevent dry skin.

NOTE: Be sure to consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.

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