American Fitness Professionals & Associates

When temperatures reach record highs and humidity levels soar, traditional outdoor workouts become less appealing. So how can you stay cool while still enjoying outdoor physical activity? One word - water. Water exercises are the perfect way to workout under the sun without overheating. You can get a total body workout without even breaking a sweat!

And don’t worry if you aren’t a veteran swimmer. Aquatic workouts aren’t limited to just swimming. There are many other forms of pool exercises. You don’t even have to be a regular exerciser to try aquatic fitness. One of the great things about working out in the water is that even fitness novices can easily perform many of the moves.

It’s also an excellent fitness choice for all ages, from the very young to seniors. Water exercise is a very good way to burn calories, improve your strength and flexibility, tone-up, improve your cardiovascular system, and just get more fit overall. And, the types of workouts are practically endless. Most land exercises can be modified and re-created in water.

Other benefits include:

• lower injury rise
• less sweating
• works your entire body
• challenges your body in a very different way then it is accustom to
•  refreshing way to workout
• water provides natural resistance so no equipment is needed
• can increase/decrease intensity (difficulty) simply by alternating between shallow and deep areas
• good low-impact exercise choice for pregnant women
• reduces joint compression and downward gravity pull (in other words -easier on the joints)
• even people who can’t exercise on land can often exercise in the water
• excellent rehabilitation exercise for people recovering from an injury
• less stress on bones and muscles
• great option for people with arthritis

Plus, water workouts also provide a fun and more socially interactive exercise option. For example, parents can enjoy time at the pool with their children while also fitting in some of their weekly workout sessions. Aquatic aerobic classes also provide a social, group-setting alternative.

Still not convinced that an aquatic workout will challenge your body as well as some of the more common workouts like walking or jogging. Well, try some of the sample exercise below and you’ll probably quickly change your mind. But, don’t judge the workout solely on how high your heart rate gets. Keep in mind that swimmers generate a slightly lower heart rate when compared to cyclists and runners. This does not imply that they aren’t working as hard. Experts equate the lower heart rate partially to the effect of immersion in a relatively cool environment. So, keep this in mind when determining your target heart rate, which may be 10 beats per minute lower when in the water.

About the author: Lynn Bode is a certified personal trainer specializing in Internet-based fitness programs.   She founded Workouts For You, which provides affordable online exercise programs that are custom designed for each individual.   Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com for a free sample workout. Fitness professionals take your business online, visit: http://www.trainerforce.com.