Four Health Benefits of Your Pool
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about time in your backyard pool is usually the fun and relaxation, watching the kids play, or hanging out with family and friends. But your pool can also be the perfect place to stay in shape during the summer.
Working out in the water provides greater resistance than in the air, which means you have to do fewer reps of each exercise to get the same benefits. It also saves you from the impact on your joints you might get from running on a treadmill or taking a jog through the neighborhood.
Several pool exercises exist that are designed to help you meet your fitness goals. Here are a few examples.
- K-Tread. Targeting most of your major muscle groups, this exercise is an all-in-one. Head to the deep end and tread water. Then extend your left leg toward the bottom, stretching out your toes. Extend your right leg and lift it to hip level and hold it for 5 seconds. Then switch, holding your left leg up for 5 seconds. Keep going for about 30 seconds, or whatever you can tolerate.
- Otter roll. Your back, abs, chest and rear-end will feel the burn on this one. While floating on your back with legs extended, grab a beach ball. Take a deep breath and roll yourself over the beach ball to the left, much like an otter does. Take another breath and go back to the right. Keep it up for about 30 seconds.
- Ball lever. This one targets your triceps, shoulders, back and abs. Get that beach ball back and float face down in the water. With your arms extended, pull the ball as quickly as you can beneath you all the way to your legs. Bend your arms, and bring the ball back above your head, and repeat for 30 seconds.
- Water jogging. For this exercise, you’ll want to be in water about waist deep. Run for one to three minutes to really get your heart going. You can alternate between this and the strength exercises. Pick up a pair of water shoes to improve your traction and prevent your feet from becoming injured from the bottom of the pool.
With these pool exercises, you’ll be on your way to a fit physique and healthier summer in no time!