Exercise in the water is the only kind of exercise that all traineesexperience a feeling of “lightness” and ease of movement.
This unique sense of freedom that everyone feels in the aquatic environment depends on the four “sports” properties of water: the temperature, the buoyancy, the resistance and the hydrostatic pressure. More specifically, once the practitioner enters the water, the body temperature is reduced, so the circulatory system delivers more blood to the working muscles. Furthermore, because of the buoyancy the burden on joints is decreased, the elasticity of the muscles and the range of the motion are improved.
In addition, the resistance that the body receives in the water is 12 times greater than the resistance which can be accepted ashore. The hydrostatic pressure in the body of a trainee helps both the deepest ventilation of the lungs and the other it acts as an auxiliary pump of the heart by reducing the heart rate. These four properties make water a unique and special fitness environment, which is suitable for all.
This kind of exercise is designed for:
- People with musculoskeletal problems
- Athletes, after injury, during the recovery period
- People who suffer from chronic diseases such as : asthma, arthritis, etc.
- Pregnant
- Elderly
- Obese
- And generally is suited for beginners and experienced trainees.
Benefits:
Improvement of the cardiorespiratory function and of the aerobic capacity
Maintaining bone density and muscle strengthening
Weight control
Reduction of the muscle pain after training
Improvement of the balance and of the correct posture as the dorsal muscles which support the spine are especially activated ( proprioception improvement )
And above all, it offers a healthy lifestyle.
Aqua training can be performed with or without the use of equipment in a deep or shallow part of it and the structure of the exercise program, as in all kinds, includes the warm up, the training and the cool down. We can use dumbbells for hands and toes, flotation belts, “noodles”, pads and several other props that increase the intensity of our training. In this way, the acquisition of different stimuli in our muscular system can be succeed. Therefore a more integrated form of training for body and mind will be succeed.
Sofia Papageorga, Yoga & Pilates Instructor, Personal Trainer, AthensTrainers® Associate
Participation: Kazlari Evaggelia
Source: athlisis.gr