What’s so cool about water workouts? Many traditional core exercises require repetitive motions, where gravity is consistently making your job more difficult. However, working your core muscles in a body of water makes a lot of sense: the buoyant quality of water means little to no stress on your joints, ligaments and back.
That means if you are focused on working your core, your nearby pool or the local swimming hole is the perfect place to literally “dive into” your workout.
Four Water Workouts To Try …
Practice Some “Pool-ates”
Poolates takes the core strengthening movements of Pilates and gets them soaking wet. Poolates expert Michelle Martin points out that your abdominal and lower back muscles are continuously worked by the motion of the water fighting against you as you move. The fact that water is 12 times more resistant than air on humans means that just a few minutes of Poolates can deliver the results of an hour of Pilates.
Here is a quick demonstration …
Try the K-Tread
The Mayo Clinic recommends water training for increased resistance and reduced pressure on your limbs and joints. The K-Tread was designed as a water workout that quickly stresses your core muscles, especially your obliques and abdominals.
Get in over your head and begin to tread water. Lift your leg towards the surface of the water while you are treading. Do not bend at the knee. Alternate legs and hold this position for 30 seconds each repetition.
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Work Your Abs With a Kickboard
This is a great water workout that employs a swimming board or kickboard. Standing in water up to your chest. Lower a kickboard into the water in front of you, in a perpendicular position. While keeping your legs straight and motionless, rotate your upper body to the left and the right, keeping the kickboard underwater.
This is an excellent exercise for strengthening your core while developing that six pack abs look.
How About Aqua Karate?
Stand in water that comes up to your chest. Make sure you have stable footing. By performing underwater kickboxing and karate moves with your hands and legs, your stomach, back and the rest of your core muscles get a serious workout.
Ask your local health club about Aqua Combat classes in your area if you would like some hands-on instruction.