WATER AEROBICS
Underwater walking, jogging, and running strengthens the
muscles of the hips and the legs (quadriceps, hamstrings,
gluteals) and develops cardiorespiratory fitness. Start out
in the shallow end of the water and gradually move to
thigh-deep water. Use the water as resistance and land
with a heel-ball-toe motion as you travel through the water.
Next, move to chest-deep water, keep correct body
position, and pump your arms at your sides as you would
if you were walking on land. Once you have developed
proper body technique, walk, jog, or run for 20-40 minutes.
In addition to aerobic fitness, weight loss may be an
unexpected benefit. The following are the estimated
calories burned for a 30-minute workout:
* Walking on land--135 calories
* Deep-water walking--264 calories
* Jogging on land--240 calories
* Deep-water jogging--345 calories
Check out your local pools and YMCA for water aerobic
classes.
