You may have been to the gym or fitness centre and spent good money on monotonous repetitive exercises. If you simply flap your arms about you may gain some extra muscle after a long time. You could use some weights to get faster results. Increase the weights over time and your results get better, until you get injured or terminally bored.

Alternative to Gyms

Swimming pools are a safe alternative to repetitive gym training with less risk of muscle injury. As the pressure of the water forces your muscles to work harder without the risk of stiffness, you will effortlessly tone your figure.

Aquatic Gym Benefits

You learn helpful breathing techniques.
Water supports your weight making exercising easy and relaxing.
Water provides gentle resistance to movement which eases strain on tender joints and develops muscle strength.
It increases oxygen and caloric consumption through correct form and positioning in the water.
It is a perfect relaxation technique for highly stressed, over-challenged people.
It is ideal for creating improved range of motion and mobility.
Prepares you for watersports and aquatic adventures.

Clothing Layers instead of Weights

You can adapt a variety of gym exercises for use in the pool, using the weight and drag resistance of clothing layers the water instead of gym weights. The load is spread more evenly over your body.

It is a bit like weight lifting. You can go up or down a notch by adding or removing a clothing layer. Adjust your clothes to suit your fitness level.

Practice regularly to get stronger and enhance your motor coordination and feeling for the water. Use all the swimming strokes and different clothes.

Most watersports are done in clothes, rather than just swimwear. Getting wet unexpectantly and fully clothed is part of their thrill. This training gets you ready for most challenges.

Pool Training for Adventure Swimming

Whether you are a novice swimmer who would like the confidence to take a dip outdoors, or a competent pool swimmer preparing for your first open water swim, or even someone who has already experienced the thrill of open water and keen to improve your skills and progress, hopefully there will be information here that you find useful.

This training is intended for intermediate swimmers. If you can’t go to the pool 3 times a week, just go as much as you can and keep the plan as it is session after session. Follow it through and see your swimming skills get better.

Prepare for Outdoors

Most outdoor swimmers achieve the longer distances more easily. When you swim outdoors, consider the key differences between pool and open water swimming.

Main factors that influence your open water distance are:

temperature
weather conditions
navigation
buoyancy
clothing

Aqua Sports and Pool Fitness

Pool sports are now much talked about as they grow more popular. In this section we introduce you to a few of these fashionable fitness sports, which as well as being fun, are effective ways to stay really fit.

There is more to aqua fitness than swimming lap after lap. Aqua fitness aerobics are endlessly adaptable for just about any fitness level, making this form of exercise accessible to just about anyone. Here’s the best part: exercising in the water can be really, really fun.

Consistent Training

The pool creates a harmonious experience that pairs the challenge of full-body cardio workout with the naturally healing properties of the water. This activity helps tone your body and make it more dynamic, as long as you practise at least twice or three times a week for a minimum of six months.

Clothing Tips

Alongside each exercise in this section we give you some clothing tips. Make sure these clothes fit well before you join any activity. Try them on first in a pool or your bath at home. The more clothes you wear the harder and better your exercise.

Equipment

With the right water aerobics equipment and clothing, you can take advantage of a huge variety of exercises to help build muscle, burn calories, and lose weight, all without putting any unnecessary strain on joints and muscles.

There are many different types of aqua fitness equipment available to meet a variety of goals and needs. Avoid weight cuffs that attach to your legs or ankles.

Water noodles are a popular way to support your balance and assist in maintaining certain positions. Water resistant weights and clothes add extra resistance to help you build muscle.

pool noodle