Summer’s here and you know what that means – it’s more time swimming. Swimming is not just an activity for fun as it has a number of benefits. If you’re looking for a fun exercise, then you’ll love the fact that swimming can make you a lot healthier and fitter.
Excited to know how to work out in the water? Here are some exercises to do:
1. Walking
Walking inside the pool is a great way to start your water workout. This warms up your joints and increases your heart rate slightly for you to prep for the full workout routine. Walk for at least 30 seconds in the pool. You can also do a few stretches in your arms, neck, and legs as you go.
2. Jumping Jacks
Looking for a harder version of jumping jacks? You’ve found it now. Jumping jacks in water are no easy task especially if you are battling the movement of the water as you lift your arms and you jump with your legs.
This exercise will help you increase your heart rate. It’s also a full-body workout which awakens all your sleeping muscles and gets you excited for the other exercises.
3. Arm Lifts
There are two ways you can do arm lifts – one is by using foam dumbbells and the other with just your hands. If you don’t have foam dumbbells, you can just start by placing your arms on your side and slowly lift them until they are above the water level. Bring them back down and repeat this for 30 reps.
On the other hand, if you have foam dumbbells, use them during this exercise. Foam dumbbells add more weight and resistance which works out your arm muscles more. With the water adding weight to your arms, this will be a more challenging exercise.
4. High-Knee Lifts
High-knee lifts are a must-do in any exercise because it can be good cardio or a workout for your legs alone. High-knee lifts can be done by starting in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart. Then, start by picking up one leg until your thighs are parallel to the swimming pool floor.
Hold this for 3 seconds then go back to your starting position. Do the same for your other leg. To make this more challenging, you can add ankle weights.
5. Leg Kicks
Leg kicks are one of the most basic no-equipment exercises you can do in the pool. All you have to do is to hold the end of the pool and lift your legs until your whole body is parallel to the pool floor. As you hold on tightly, do flutter-kicks with your legs. Do this for 1 minute and for 3 reps.
This simple exercise works the whole of your legs plus your core. Because you are keeping yourself afloat all this time, your core will be helping you lift your body as you move your legs.
The pool is always a great idea. Have more reasons to swim when you do these exercises that will surely keep you fit and sexy.
