High temperatures, vacations and changing routines mean that exercise decreases in the summer. During these months, water sports are a great option to relax and have fun while gaining muscle and cardio-respiratory power, burning calories and taking care of the joints. Take note of all the benefits that exercise in water has.
Going for a walk or a run in the sun and with a suffocating heat is not very appetizing or recommended.And although it’s usually cool in the gym, during vacation or our rest period we usually move from our place of residence, so we don’t have so much at hand to perform our usual exercise routines.
Whether you’re a year-round exerciser or a more sporadic one, a good dip is always in order. The beach and the pool offer many possibilities to do activities that, besides refreshing us, have fun and improve our mood, give us very healthy benefits.
Benefits of water sports
You get more exercise with less effort. The resistance of water is twelve times greater than that of air, which makes the movements slower. This same resistance and slowing down keeps muscles and joints from overloading. If we also add accessories such as fins or boards, the resistance, and therefore the exercise, is even greater. More calories are burned. The resistance of the water makes water exercises burn 10 to 12 calories per minute and contributes to a flatter stomach.
They improve blood circulation. Both the changes in temperature between the water and the outside environment, and the type of exercise we choose, activate and promote circulation. Exercise in water is suitable for all people and all ages. The exercises are soft and require less intensity than others, so they can be practiced by both children and adults.
They are especially beneficial for the elderly and even for people with mobility problems or people who are recovering from muscle or joint injuries. Also they are apt for pregnant women because they are safe, they tone up and they do not tire so much.
In the water you can combine aerobic, resistance and cardiovascular improvement, and anaerobic, strength and muscle toning exercises. This improves body posture, increases physical endurance, and slims down the figure. It reduces stress. Any type of moderate exercise releases endorphins that reduce anxiety and stress and improve our mood.
If we also practice them in nature and in the aquatic environment the sensation of calm and well-being is more intense. It is fun. Exercises are fun whether we do them alone or in company. If we join an aquagym or aquafitness group we will have a monitor who will encourage us and we will perform the exercises with music.
What water sports can we do?
There are many possibilities to exercise in the water. From the most common and complete, swimming, to those performed in the pool, in groups and with music, such as aquagym, hydrospinning or aquazumba. In the sea we have many possibilities, such as surfing, paddle surfing, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and fun flyboarding. In general, all water sports allow us to relax, but at the same time some of them allow us to release adrenaline, so the benefits for mental health are also many.
Precautions to take into account
To avoid accidents and injuries when doing water sports we should always do exercises appropriate to our age and physical condition. It is always advisable to consult a doctor to determine which exercise is appropriate in each case. In addition, we must use the appropriate equipment, pay attention to the weather conditions and the state of the sea, avoid going alone in case we need assistance and be very careful with diving, since diving into shallow areas is the first cause of tetraplegia even more so than road accidents.