We all want a summer body but sans the sweat. Gyms and fitness centres are too stuffy in the summer and the outdoors is too harsh. So, pool workouts, are undoubtedly your best bet since they come with double benefits of keeping cool, as well as toning up at the same time. POoja Arora tells you everything you need to know about water workouts.
How effective is a water workout?
A workout in the pool would be similar to working out on land with a few tweaks here and there. Start with a warm-up of 5-10 minutes—it could be a pool jog; you could incorporate kicks and punches, jumping jacks as part of the warmups.
Once the muscles are ready for the workout, you can up the intensity. Water workouts get tougher when the same movement is done faster. You can add some strength training too by using foam dumbbells or paddles. These equipments add more resistance and can be used for toning and strengthening. You can do an HIIT workout with various exercises done in quick successions and with short rest phases. An HIIT workout helps in increasing stamina and helps decrease fat .
Will it help in burning calories?
Water is much heavier than air which means more resistance while working out. An hour’s workout in water can easily burn up to 600-plus calories. Yes, you read that right. Water workouts also help tone up faster, thanks to all the resistance.
How are water workouts better than gym workouts?
Water is buoyant and keeps the body light; hence, the impact on joints while exercising is much lesser. Water workouts are also very effective at a time when almost every other person is battling pain in the knee or the back.
Maximise your pool workout
l Always plan your exercise in detail, with warm-ups workouts and stretches before splashing in. Each day plan on workingout on different muscle groups—legs, upper body, core etc .
l Keep yourself hydrated through the workouts, even pool workouts can dehydrate you.
l Ensure you have a small snack two or more hours before the aqua session. This enables enough energy for workout. Working out in the pool immediately after a heavy meal can make you queasy so avoid that.
l Eat healthy through the day. Remember, abs are made in the kitchen. For quicker results, eat healthy along with your aqua regime.
Working out has never been this much fun before. So this summer, dab on sunscreen and dive in right away!
