Those who own an inground pool, lap pool or swim spa are lucky in that they’re able to avoid gym memberships and get in a good workout in the comfort of their own home. Why is pool exercise preferred to exercising in a gym? The fact is the exercise you get while in the water can be just as vigorous, while being much safer, than what you can do in a commercial gym. It’s the properties of water that make exercising in a pool or swim spa better than in a gym. In this article, we present how your inground pool, swim spa or lap pool can provide a great workout space.
Ease of Use
When you have your own inground swimming pool, lap pool or swim spa, your exercise area is only a few steps away. You don’t have to worry about going out in public, battling the weather and traffic or dealing with peak times at the gym. All you need to do is simply change into your swimsuit and get down to work! The barrier to exercise is extremely low when you have access to your own facilities.
Low Impact Workouts
Working out on dry land is hard on your bones and joints. Gravitational forces conspire to use the full weight of your body against you which can result in injury, especially if you already have injuries. Working out in the water relieves as much as 90% of your body weight from your bones and joints. For those who are pregnant, suffer from arthritis or other painful conditions, exercising in the water can reduce the impact on the body to virtually zero. The buoyancy provided by the water can be used as a natural cushion for the body.
Full Body Training
There is a wide enough range of exercises that can be performed in the water to give yourself a complete body workout. Virtually any exercise you can do in the gym you can also do in the water. You can isolate specific body parts and work them separately or perform exercises that coordinates a variety of muscles at once. Working out in the water has the added benefits of increasing balance and reducing the chance of injury or strain.
Utilizing Water Resistance
Just because working out in the water can reduce the effects of impact on your body, it doesn’t mean you can’t get in an intense workout session. The resistance provided by the water, which can be 10 times more than the resistance created by the air, works against your muscles in direct relation to the effort you put in. By using accessories such as kickboards or pool noodles you can increase the resistance even more.