A swimming pool is a great place for a workout. And the act of "dipping in" can give you a delightful sensual experience. As I always say – it’s all good…

If you read my articles regularly you will notice that I often bring the sensual aspect into the topics. That’s because I believe you can enhance your level of fitness by taking your senses into consideration. It helps you to get "in tune" with your own body, and this can give you better results.

Water is sensual and it can have a soothing effect on the body. When we immerse ourselves in water, it feels like a form-fitting security blanket – harking back, perhaps, to the sensations felt in the fluid-filled womb. As you read this article you may find yourself wanting to have the sensation of water around you. If so, you will enjoy water workouts.

The nice thing about water workouts is the way the buoyancy of the water supports your body. It reduces the stress on your weight-bearing joints.

"When you’re standing in shoulder-high water only 10% of your body weight is acting on your joints, so exercise doesn’t hurt as much," say Doreen Stiskal, M.S., P.T., a physical therapist at Setan Hall University who helped to revise the Arthritis Foundation’s water aerobics program.

With water supporting your joints, you can get a better range of motion—an important part of any workout. Water allows you to move more freely, so you can do things in water that you can’t do on dry land. And experts say that water offers at least 12 times more resistance than air, which can help to strengthen your muscles. Experts say that the pressure of water exerted on your legs can aid circulation in a way that is similar to wearing support hose, and the soothing sensation of warm water is known to be great for stress relief. So, with all of these nice benefits, it’s easy to see how water exercise is creating a big splash!

Water exercise is often referred to as Aqua Aerobics, Aqua Exercise or Swimnastics. This type of exercise has become popular in recent years. It’s great for people with certain health issues or those recovering from an injury—and water exercise programs are gaining participants of all ages. Today, pools and gyms offer a variety of classes including Water Boxing, Aqua Step, Water Running and Water Strength Training. This variety could account for the wide range of fitness enthusiasts, but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that the classes are fun.

I like to vary my workouts, so I recently took a water aerobics class. Splashing around made me feel like a kid again. It was fun, and I found it to be a refreshing change from my regular workouts. I had a great night’s rest afterward, too. Always a plus in my book.

Today’s swimwear can add a stylish new dimension to your water workouts. Find swimwear that "suits" you. That goes for the cover up, too. And if you are going to do water exercise, I suggest picking up a pair of "water shoes," which will provide traction when performing the exercises. I did my first water workout without them, so I picked up a pair for next time. You can usually find them in department stores in the shoe section.

Water exercise can be performed with or without equipment. Water "props" such as foam weights, noodles and flippers for the hands and feet are commonly used. Generally, you don’t even need to be able to swim to participate in water exercise classes. Walking, jogging, stretching and spot toning can be modified for water.

Dr. Rachel Yeater of the Human Performance Laboratory at West Virginia University is a firm believer in the beneficial effects of water workouts. For ultimate fitness, she suggests that people incorporate Swimnastics into their fitness regimen. "Endurance activities like walking or jogging are excellent when performed in water because water decreases the trauma on the body’s joints, and water workouts provide a superb means of exercise for those who wish to lose weight. Fat tissue is quite buoyant in water, so overweight individuals are able to move about more effortlessly in water than they can on dry land," said Yeater. She also adds that Swimnastics offers psychological benefits for the overweight: "The feeling of floating freely in the water gives a sense of weightlessness, perhaps boosting self-confidence of people who are overweight."

Aquatic exercises are also helpful in alleviating lower back issues. Of course, as with any exercise program, always have the approval of your doctor and do not cause pain

Yeater recommends using a kickboard for improving lower-back difficulties. Many basic exercises may be performed with a kickboard while lying on the stomach, back or side. And kickboard movements are great for shaping the hips, thighs and buttocks. Styrofoam kickboards are relatively inexpensive and they can be found at sporting-goods stores. If you can’t find a kickboard, a sturdy beach ball can be used.

Swimnastics goes a long way toward promoting muscle strength and tone because water offers resistance that air does not. Both resistance and movement are necessary for strengthening and toning the muscles of the body. Exercise in water affords a large measure of resistance while allowing for great freedom of movement.

Water supplies resistance in three ways, all working simultaneously. The first, known as skin friction, is the resistance of the water that is next to the body as the body moves. Skin friction is not noticeable during fast-paced movements.

Slightly different from skin friction, directional resistance is the force of the water that impedes forward, backward or side-to-side motion.

The third kind is called eddy resistance. When designing a boat, much attention is given to streamlining of the vessel. If the component parts are poorly contoured, the vessel creates small whirlpools or eddies as it moves. Basically, the same holds true for the human body. The design of the body can’t be appreciably altered, but with certain changes in body position, like bending and twisting, the role of eddy resistance becomes more pronounced.

Prime places to find good swimming pools are colleges and universities, health clubs and local recreation departments. Weather permitting, you can do water workouts in an outdoor pool. And because water workouts require little space, a crowded pool need not deter you. You can double your fun by working out with a friend.

Start preparing your Spring Shape Up plan now.
Get tight, toned and sexy by getting wet!
____________________________________________________________

DeBarra Mayo has written several fitness books and hundreds of articles about fitness. She has some great ideas that will help you feel and look more sexy in a bikini.

Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, or for medical diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, or a qualified health care provider before starting a new diet, treatments or exercise programs - or consult with your physician about questions regarding a medical condition. If you are pregnant, always seek the advice of your physician before starting a new diet, treatments or exercise program.