With fun new aqua fitness classes headed your way, (read, “New Aqua Classes Coming Soon”), Meg Root gives you a few good reasons why you should join the fitness party in the Lap Pool during your next visit to Glen Ivy.

Two Guys and A Swimming Pool: A Few Good Reasons to Mix Exercise With Water

I was standing on the deck of the lap pool as two buff guys walked down the steps into the water and started paddling around. These were not just your run-of-the-mill, in shape kinda guys. Maybe they were professional athletes, I don’t know. But they had four perfectly sculpted shoulders between them, two sets of bulging biceps, at least a twelve pack for abs–and maybe 3% body fat. You do the math. These guys were perfect specimens of male . . .

No, this is not a blog about guy watching at Glen Ivy.

I was setting up poolside, for my 11am AquaFit class, and these hard bodies were about to be two of my students.

Meet the new face of aquatic fitness! As we say in the business, “It’s not just for ladies in swimming caps anymore.”

Worn out stereotypes about aqua fitness and the people who participate are finally disappearing, as word gets out that these workouts are great for all fitness levels. The inherent properties of water–things like buoyancy, viscosity, and drag–mean that working out in this liquid environment can be enjoyable and forgiving on the joints, or challenging and punishing on the body–depending on your reasons for taking the plunge.

With the warm sunny weather headed our way, and 16 pools of all shapes and sizes spread out over the Glen Ivy property, we have one pool that will be rocking the house with a variety of aqua fitness classes this summer.  If your usual trip to the hot springs has always been about kicking back with a cold drink and a good book, I’m here to give you five compelling reasons to leave your floaty in the Lounge Pool behind–at least for a little while–and come join the fitness pool party in the central pool:

Reason #1: It’s fun! Music you can sing to, movements that are easy to follow, and a group of people ready to have a good time means that you will have no option but to leave the pool with a big smile on your face.

Reason #2: It feels good! If you have low back pain, joint issues, or have not always felt light on your feet, exercising can be, well–miserable. Submerge yourself in a few thousand gallons of warm, buoyant water though, and you will begin to feel like you’ve come down with a curious case of the “Benjamin Buttons.”

Reason #3: It’s great for cross training! Are you into high intensity workouts like running, bootcamp, or PX90? While these amped up workouts can help you see quick results, put yourself through that every day and you’ll risk burnout or injury. Aqua fitness classes give you the opportunity to push yourself just as hard without the impact on your joints.

Reason #4: It’s a time saver! Head to your local gym and you’ll need a separate exercise for each muscle group–by my count, 10-12, not including core work. Jump in a pool with 360º  resistance, and you get two exercises for the price of one. Biceps on the way up, triceps on the way down. Best of all, maintaining good posture in the water means ALL core, ALL the time.

Reason #5: It works! I know what you’re thinking: “This workout better deliver or I may as well head back to my floaty with a drink in my hand.” Aqua fitness classes are at the top of the calorie burning list, not to mention they hit every muscle group in your body including the heart muscle keeping you alive.

Amazing things happen when you mix exercise with water. It’s a foolproof recipe for wellness that can last you a lifetime. But just in case my five reasons are not convincing enough for you, I’ll give you a couple more. Those two guys I told you about earlier–they were not the only two good looking guys I’ve seen in class before. It could be that your prince charming is waiting for you in an aqua aerobics class. Now that could be good for your health!

Meg Root is an ACE certified Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist with over 25 years in the fitness and spa industry.