Category: Swimming

Water Works – For Fitness and Weight Loss

Before I had my left hip replaced a year ago, I could barely walk with a cane due to hip and knee pain.  After my surgery, I did my physical therapy exercises, but still lacked muscle mass, core strength and mobility.  I also had significant knee pain.   I began to attend water exercise classes regularly late last summer.
Since I started exercising three times a week in the water, I  lost 10 pounds and gained muscle and core strength.  In late February I began adding deep water running for 30 minutes to my water aerobics classes.  I have lost an akatevedderdditional 5 pounds, and slimmed my legs and midriff enough that my husband has noticed!
I also have regained full range of motion in my hips and experience almost no knee pain, thanks to water exercise classes and deep water running.  I may not be able to run on the ground, but I love the feeling of running in the water.
Kate Vedder

 

    Water Training – Jump In to Better Fitness

    Want to build speed and strength without putting excess stress on your joints? Then take your workouts, especially plyometrics(jumping) to the pool. Exercising in water is extremely effective because of increased multidirectional resistance that builds as you move through the water.

    Plyometrics is aimed at making muscles work better and more efficiently rather than making them bigger. It burns lots of calories and increases metabolism too. Doing them in water reduces risk of injury. We do these regularly in Aqua Boot Camp.

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    Sample Exercise 1: Stand in water just under chest deep with feet should width apart. Tuck both knees to chest without propelling yourself upward. Immediately push your legs back down to touch the bottom of the pool. When the balls of your feet touch the bottom, immediately tuck your knees again.   Do about 40.

    Sample Exercise 2: Stand in water just under chest deep with feet about double shoulder width apart. Jump upward while keeping your legs straight but sealing them together. On the lowering phase bring your legs wide and land.   Repeat immediately as soon as the balls of your feet touch the pool bottom. Do about 40.

    As a certified personal trainer and one of eleven Master Trainers for the AQx Sports system I am always looking and educating myself for new ways to improve the fitness of the average exerciser, inspiring athlete, fitness newbie or someone recovering from surgery. As director of the Aquatics department I would love to help you or find someone that can. Contact me: Heidi@phfitness.com or check out our Aquatics Page or my personal page.

      Benefits of Water Exercise in Salt Water Pools

      Whether your water workouts have your body horizontal as when you swim or your body vertical as with water fitness workouts like Aqua Boot Camp and Water Running the benefits are many. Before I get to the fitness benefits you should know about the advantages of training in the salt-water pools at Pinnacle.

      Working out in a salt-water swimming pool is gentler on your eyes and less drying to your skin, along with having a silkier feel. The pools are naturally chlorinated by the salt-water system.  No more bleached swimsuits, yellow hair and strong chemical odors.

      Water is about 800 times denser than air, so it provides about 12 times more resistance.  The moves you do in the pool can work your arms, legs, shoulders, and core. With water workouts you gain flexibility, balance as well as muscle symmetry because you are always work the opposing muscle immediately

      Some other benefits:

      • Reduce stress on joints, bones, and muscles because of the buoyancy of water and option of flotation devices for those who can’t exercise comfortably on land
      • Minimizes risk of injury because water provides resistance in multiple directions, which helps build balance and muscle strength
      • Achieve muscle tone faster through the ability to work two opposing muscle groups with each rep by the resistance provided from the water during both the lengthening and shortening of the muscle belly
      • Increase your exercise workload and burn more calories because it takes more muscle energy to push your body through water than through air

      Example Strength and Cardio Set:

      Split-jump lunges with biceps curls

      (Targets: biceps, Triceps, back, hips, glutes, quads)

      With an aqua hand paddle in each hand, arms at your sides, step your right foot back into a lunge. Jump up to switch sides and do a biceps curl, keeping arms submerged. (You can alternate arms or curl both arms at the same time.) Continue for 60 seconds.

      Athletes with injuries or people recovering from hip or knee replacements will benefit from our warm water pool. The hydrostatic pressure of the warm water decreases joint and soft tissue swelling that can result after injury or with arthritic conditions or disorders. Warm water also relaxes muscles and vasodilates vessels, increasing blood flood to injured areas, helping those with muscle spasms, back pain and fibromyalgia.

      My name is Heidi Meyer-Spidell and I am the Aquatics director at Pinnacle. I am a Master Aquatic Trainer certified by the Aquatic Exercise Association, Midwest Aquatic Association, American Council on Exercise and the Arthritis Foundation.

      Please click here for offers in our AQUATICS DEPARTMENT  or click here to learn more about me.