Water Fitness Articles

The impact of land-based running can often have significantly debilitating effects on the body. Yet running is one of the most popular cardiovascular activities, and enthusiasts have difficulty cutting back, despite the potential for injury. If this is the case with a client of yours, you might suggest deep-water running (DWR) as a more accommodating alternative to the unforgiving terrain o...

“Nekkid Water Fitness” is a fun-based format designed to accommodate an apparently healthy population in shallow water. The class uses traditional and nontraditional exercises to achieve both cardiovascular and muscular strength and endurance. Absolutely no equipment is needed. Enlist your imagination, and bring your own style and expertise to the workout. Bottom line? This cl...

class take-out by Bethany Diamond Sample Class: Nekkid Water Fitness Use the pool's natural fun factor to teach a balanced workout. "Nekkid Water Fitness" is a fun-based format designed to accommodate an apparently healthy population in shallow water. The class uses traditional and nontraditional exercises to achieve both cardiovascular and muscular strength and endurance. Absolutely no equipmen...

With the number of Americans who are inactive and/or overweight steadily increasing, personal fitness trainers (PFTs) face many challenges. Meeting these challenges requires the ability to cater to a broad client base, as well as a determination to keep up-to-date with current industry trends and research. Successful PFTs, like successful businesspeople in any industry, continuall...

WHAT'S HOT IN H2O? Water fitness trendsetters share mainstream information about programming in the pool. By Amanda Vogel, MA If you want to stay on top of industry trends, take a closer look at water fitness. Although this type of exercise is nothing new, demand for it is far from washed up. The evolution of aquatics is leading to exciting new programming streams, many of which reflect other hot...

Exercising in the water offers many benefits. Not only does the pool serve as a “liquid weight room,” but the buoyancy factor makes it easier to move. Water ex...

BY SHIRLEY ARCHER, JD, MA How to Building a successful aquatic fitness pro- Develop a Successful Wa t e r Fitness P ro g r a m With proper planning, you can build a profitable aquatic fitness program even if you've never taught a water class and don't have a pool! gram involves much more than simply putting water classes on a schedule. From coordinating use of the pool to budgeting to hiring qu...

The unique properties of water (buoyancy and resistance) provide a safe and effective modality for both relaxation and vigorous exercise, yet the health benefits of water workouts are not widely known. Current public health trends—especially rising rates of obesity, coupled with an aging population, associated chronic conditions and rising healthcare costs—are a call to new action for both treatment and prevention.

Water is a heat robber. If you’re not moving at a high enough rate to generate your own heat, water will bring your body temperature down to its level. So instead of a cool-down at the end of a water fitness workout, do a “warm-down.” The idea is to continue moving in order to generate heat, maintain comfort and avoid the “big chill.”

Water fitness classes have grown in popularity and creativity over the past 20 years. What started off as something more or less for older, less fit women has developed into a recognized form of fitness training for the superfit exerciser, the athlete recovering from injury, the older adult with a chronic condition or the person who simply enjoys how forgiving the water environment can be to joints. The pool is also a terrific environment for circuit and interval classes.