When you think about exercising in the water, swimming is probably the first–and maybe only–workout that comes to mind. However, these days you can find people doing a variety of exercises in their local swimming pools. If the idea of paddling laps doesn't appeal to you, you may find water aerobics classes or simply walking or jogging in water a fun addition to your exercise routine.

The Benefits of Moving in Water

Fitness fans from pro athletes to grandmothers have found many reasons to take to the water when it's time to exercise.

Benefits of water workouts include:

• Minimal impact on your joints. The buoyancy of the water takes most of the weight off your feet (or even all of it if you're using a flotation device), thus reducing stress on your muscles, joints, and bones. For these reasons, water exercise may be especially good for people with arthritis and back pain.
   
• Builds strength. Water offers about 12 times the resistance of air, so when you push and pull your arms and legs through the water, you improve your strength—especially if you use equipment designed to increase the challenge such as webbed gloves.
   
• Burns calories. Because it's harder to walk through water than on land, you'll burn more calories per hour walking in water, and you can even put more muscles to work walking backward or side-to-side.
   
• Keeps you cool. The water takes heat away from your body more easily than air does, and you won't get hot and sweaty working out in the pool like you may on land.

You may find that using simple equipment adds to the enjoyment and challenge of your water workouts.  Commonly used gear includes aqua shoes for traction, a flotation vest or belt to suspend you in deeper water, flotation noodles or inflatable cuffs to push through the water for strength training, and paddles that attach to your feet to make walking more difficult. To find water-workout opportunities in your area, contact your local YMCA, fitness center, or swimming facility.

Sources: Literature on water exercise, including Fantastic Water Workouts, by MaryBeth Pappas Baun.

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