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What is the best temperature for Aqua Fitness? The answer depends on a number of considerations.  But for most people, the ideal water temperature for Aqua is between 83 F (28.3 C) and 88 F (31.1 C).

In deciding how warm to heat the pool think about:

Will you get in? If you are the type who shudders at the thought of a cold pool, then it’s better to heat the pool on the warm side because if it is cooler, you may blow off doing your exercise. So heat the pool warmer when you first start out doing Aqua. Then once you get in the habit, turn it down a bit.

Can you afford the heating bill? Depending on the weather where you live and how big your pool is, the cost of heating a pool may vary. If you can’t afford the heating bill in winter months, consider investing in some lightweight wetsuits instead. Also look into pool covers and solar heating.

 

Will you be working out vigorously, or gently? If you will be doing a regular workout, start with fast jogging to warm up. Usually the initial cold will wear off in just a few minutes. Do not heat the pool too warm if you will be doing a vigorous workout because you may overheat and be uncomfortable once you get started. If you plan to do gentle workouts, however, such as Aqua Pilates or Aqua Yoga, you may want the pool warmer.

How old are you? Older people and children prefer a warmer pool. In fact, seniors are advised not to work out in pools that are too cold.

How many people are working out in the pool? In a mixed group, there may be people who prefer it cooler and those who prefer it warmer. The best course is to adjust the temperature so that it safe for the oldest members without being uncomfortably warm for others.

When I give private Aqua lessons, I request that client try to heat their pool to somewhere between 83 and 88 degrees if possible.  That way the lesson is enjoyable, safe, and productive.

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Did you know that you can buy waterproof headphones that won’t get ruined if they get water on them?

Music is key to a great Aqua Fitness workout. If you are in a class, the instructor provides music. But what if you are working out on your own? If you are home in your own pool you can put speakers out by the pool. But if you are in a pool at a gym or Y, then you may want to investigate waterproof headphones.

Most Aqua workouts do not require you to submerge your head, so you might be able to get by with regular headphones that are connected by bluetooth to a phone or other music device. But sometimes when you are jumping around, headphones can fall off. That’s why waterproof headphones are so great. You do not have to worry about getting them wet if they drop.

H20 Audio Waterproof headphones

One of the best reviewed headphones for the pool are made by a company called H20 Audio, and they are available on Amazon. The problem with some waterproof headphones is that the sound quality is often tinny. If you read the reviews on the H20Audio headphones, however, you will see that these headphones get great sound. They also come with a 1-year warranty. These are wired headphones that you can use with a waterproof ipod or mp3 player.

Senso Bluetooth Waterproof headphones

If you are looking for bluetooth headphones instead of wired ones, then take a look at the Senso Bluetooth headphones.  These are well reviewed with more than 20,000 reviews more than 100 answered questions on Amazon!  These have great sound, are waterproof, and connect via Bluetooth to devices within 30 feet.  You can leave your device on the deck and jump around with these in the pool no problem.

Underwater Audio Waterproof iPod Shuffle

My favorite way to work out in the pool by myself is with my waterproof iPod shuffle. Underwater Audio is a company that takes these small iPods made by Apple and waterproofs them. It is amazing because they looked feel just like a regular iPod, but they are waterproofed.  You can buy just the iPod or the iPod with one of two choices of waterproof headphones.  If you opt to get the headphones from them, go with the more expensive ones. The first time I bought my waterproof iPod I got the cheaper headphones and while they worked, the sound was not great.  When I got better headphones, though, the sound was fabulous.  Amazon has more than a 1,000 reviews with 4.5 stars average.

The way I use my iPod is I clip it to my hat. Most of the time, the device never gets wet. But I feel so much more secure knowing it is waterproof. Before I got this one I had a regular shuffle and I was always worried about what would happen if it dropped into the water. Although I do not swim with it, you can! It’s also nice to use if you are using it while working out on land and sweat a lot.

If you are interested in the fabulous waterproof iPod Shuffle that can go in the pool, I would look into it right away. Underwater Audio buys regular iPods in bulk and then modifies them with waterproofing. I am not sure how much longer iPods will be available because Apple has announced it is discontinuing them.

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Photo: Camilla Cordeiro, Unsplash

Did you know there’s a special swimsuit detergent that neutralizes the harmful effects of chlorine? What the heck is chlorine anyway, and why do we put it in pools?

Benefits of Chlorine

Chlorine is the chemical element with the symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The reason we put it in pools is that Chlorine kills bacteria. In pools, chlorine acts as a sanitizer, an algaecide and an oxidizer of contaminants. It kills microorganisms that can cause health-related problems, such as gastroenteritis, Legionnaires disease, ear infections and athlete’s foot among others.

Harmful Effects of Chlorine on Swimsuits

The disinfecting properties of chlorine, however, come at a price: Chlorine dries out hair and skin and causes swimsuits to rapidly deteriorate. This is why you should always rinse off your body, your hair, and your suit after you go in the pool. If you take an aqua class and use the pool frequently, you may have several suits and you may be tempted to just hang one up to dry straight from the pool without rinsing it. This practice soon results in fabric that fades and elastic that breaks down.

How to Protect Swimsuits from Chlorine

There are steps you can take to make your swimsuit last longer. First, pick a suit that has high spandex content, as spandex tends to hold up best to Chlorine. Some brands of suits even say in the label that they are specially treated to resist chlorine damage. They cost more, but last longer. Next, always rinse out or wash your suit as soon as you can after getting out of the pool. Then wash it in the laundry. Always let it dry by hanging it up—don’t put it in the dryer. If you add a few tablespoons of vinegar to your wash, it will neutralize any chlorine still in the fabric. You can even buy special swimsuit detergent  made to counter pool chlorine. A small bottle of laundry detergent for swimsuits lasts a long time. One easy way to make sure your swimsuit is protected from the harmful effects of chlorine is to carry a small spray bottle with the solution in it to the pool. You can then spray it on to neutralize the chlorine immediately. You can also spray the solution on your swim goggles or swim cap if you use those.

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Most people do aqua fitness for cardio exercise, but it is also awesome for stretching and meditation. Youtube has several aqua yoga videos. This one linked above by Austin Aqua Yoga is a good example of how you can do moves in the pool gently to stretch and meditate. Aqua yoga is a good way to relax in the pool and still get some toning and stretching. Aqua yoga is also a good way to introduce yourself to aqua fitness if you are easing into working out after a long period of inactivity.

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Aqua Zumba combines Zumba with Aqua. What I like about this video on Youtube by ily Cortes is that the instructors seem to be having so much fun. Zumba classes on land are fun because they use Latin dance moves. If you like Latin dancing and music, check out this video on Youtube. You can find others on Youtube that are similar using the keywords “Aqua Zumba.” This video will give you ideas for dance moves you can do in the water.

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Is aqua fitness weight-bearing?

Does water aerobics build muscles strength?

Does aqua build bone density?

Do I need to combine aqua fitness with land exercises?

People ask these questions about aqua aerobics because the buoyancy of water counteracts the effects of gravity. That is why aqua is low-impact, even when you work hard and get a great workout.

How Gravity Affects Workouts

On land, gravity pulls us down: we have to work to hold our bodies upright. In water, gravity does not have as much pull. The support of water makes it easier for many people to work out. They can run, jump, kick, and push the water around without stressing joints the way they would on land. Exercising in water gives you all the benefits of a great cardio workout and you do build muscle strength. However, because aqua is low impact, you may not be build up bone density the same as if you did exercises on land.

Bone is a living tissue that gets stronger when it is used to bear weight. Studies show that weight-bearing exercise stimulates bone formation and helps us retain calcium in our bones. Weight-bearing can mean literally lifting weights, but it also can mean exercise where we “bear the weight” of our own body, such as walking, hiking, jogging, dancing, tennis, climbing stairs. 

Swimming is not considered a weight-bearing exercise. Is aqua fitness weight-bearing? It depends. When we exercise in the deep end using floats to keep up our bodies, we are not putting any weight on our bones. When we are in the shallow end jogging or jumping, however, we are putting some weight on our bones.

In short, working out in the water does not give us the full benefit of building up bone density. That is why it is a good idea to combine aqua fitness with some form of weight-bearing land exercise, two to three times a week. This could be a vigorous exercise, such as tennis or jogging, or it could be a less strenuous one, such as walking and lifting small weights.

Making Aqua Fitness Weight Bearing to Help Bones

How can you get the best aqua workout for bone strength? There are ways to increase the amount of work done by your bones in aqua fitness. For example, it’s recommended to have at least part of your aqua routine include some work in shallow water so that you do put some weight on your leg bones. (Aqua shoes can help support you and protect joints even more than the water.)

You can also incorporate aqua dumbbells in your workout. Aqua dumbbells or water weights are made of foam that floats. When you push and pull them under the water it causes resistance, which is similar to lifting heavy weights on land. You can also use foam noodles, kick boards, paddles, elastic bands, aqua gloves, and other aqua equipment to achieve the same resistance. You can also do “wall work,” where your body is in the pool, but you push yourself out to do push ups or dips on the side.

Tips for Aqua Workouts and Bone Health

Here’s some tips for using aqua dumbbells and other aqua gear:

• The bigger the dumbbell, the more resistance.
• The deeper you push water weights under water, the more resistance.
• Move aqua dumbbells slowly for a full range of motion but do not force a move and or put too much pressure on your joints
• Start with smaller weights and work up
• Focus on maintaining spinal alignment throughout the exercise
• Keep a loose grip on the handles and keep elbows bent slightly

As with any workout, check with your doctor or therapist if you have issues and start slowly then work your way up as you become stronger and more confident.

Start with Aqua Fitness and Add Land-Based Exercise

Many people find that when they start getting into shape after starting aqua, they are better equipped to work out on land. They improve balance, tone muscles, and gain cardiovascular endurance. Training in the water can even help reduce inflammation while helping your tendons and joints regain strength. Thus aqua can be a great way to get started in a fitness program that can then gradually include more land-based exercise as well. Make part of your water routine include weight-bearing aqua fitness with dumbells, shallow water work, and wall work, and then add in land activities. If you feel you are not ready for too much exercise on land, then you might consider taking a bone supplement. 

If you do aqua in an outdoor pool, remember to always wear a water-resistant sunscreen.

Check out my reviews of best free aqua fitness videos for tips on weight-bearing aqua routines in the shallow end.

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