Great Ideas for Exercising in Water
The heat is on and it is time to cool off! While many people flock to the beach for their towel-sized place in the sand, there are other ways to enjoy the water and get some exercise at the same time. Did you know that exercising in water puts much less stress on your joints? This is due to the water’s buoyancy and resistance, and there are lots of things you can do in water that might seem impossible on land. Let’s take a look at some different options for water exercise:
Dive In!
Head to a local pool or your favorite body of water for some quality exercise time. There are many water exercises you can do that build both cardiovascular and muscular strength. To start, loosen yourself up by doing some wall stretches against the side of the pool (try a tree if you are outside!). Begin walking in the water, slowly increasing your speed. You can also try water jogging with or without a water belt. (Water belts keep your head and chest above the surface of the water.) Try adapting regular gym exercises like bicep curls, squats, and lunges to the water. When it’s time to cool down, float on your back and do some arm and leg circles. If you prefer more structure, many local pools offer swimming and/or water aerobics classes.
Row!
If you are looking for a good workout and want to make some waves, kayaking and canoeing are easy and fun. Both build upper body strength, and there are also benefits to your waist and hips from rowing. If you don’t own a kayak or canoe, there are lots of local places you can check out. Get a local map from a local dealer so you can explore some popular and hidden waterways.
Off the Beaten Wave!
If you are looking for an adventure somewhat out of the ordinary, look for places that rent water bikes, pedal boats, or stand up paddle boards. Paddle boards will give you a full body workout, test your balance, and give you a chance to feel like you are walking on water. There’s also scuba diving, parasailing, and the ever popular jetpack flying.
After your water workout, it’s time to rehydrate, so here are two healthy recipes that taste great and will cool you down.
Green Lemonade
compliments of elanaspantry.com
- 1 bunch of kale (use stalks and all)
- 1 cucumber (with or without skin)
- 1 lemon
- 1 Granny Smith apple (remove core)
Juice and enjoy!
Iron Enhancing Green Smoothie
compliments of Simple Health
- 1 cup pineapple
- 1 cup mango
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 handful cilantro
- 1 cup coconut water or regular water
Place items in the blender in the order listed, and blend to you desired level of consistency.
Whichever water activity you decide to try, make sure to get your health care provider’s approval first. We want to make sure you are healthy and safe as you work your way toward reaching your health goals. If there is anything we can do to support you along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Next time we will talk more about juicing and making smoothing, and will provide tips on which fruits and veggies are best to use.