It’s now been ten weeks since I first tried a water aerobics class, so I thought it was high time I did a bit of an “aqua update”.
Of course the $64 000 question is – am I still going regularly?
You bet!
I have *finally* found an exercise that I don’t mind, and have only missed one of my twice weekly classes so far.
Benefits of Water Aerobics
In fact, I’d even go so far as to say I’m *enjoying* it, and am really noticing some of the benefits! Things like:
- Focusing on my breathing and feeling my heart rate increase as I’m working out;
- How much more flexible my body feels;
- It’s a great way to start my day;
- I’ve noticed a difference in my fitness levels;
- I’m now doing an extra one and a half hours of physical activity each week;
- And while I’m a bit sad that I haven’t really lost any weight, I am definitely toning up and feeling better for it!
Perhaps the greatest benefit is that I no longer suffer from sore neck and shoulder muscles after sitting at my computer all day. Clearly the gentle exercise of aqua aerobics is helping to work all the kinks out and ease the tension I normally carry in that part of my body (just ask my massage therapist LOL).
It might be a gentle way to exercise but don’t be fooled – I still work up a sweat!
I love that it’s low impact – I can work my body hard and very rarely suffer any (and even then it’s minimal) pain afterwards – unlike a gym session. Whichever idiot said that “pain is gain”, has never tried aqua aerobics!
The sessions consist mostly of women aged in their 40’s and above. At first I couldn’t work out why that was, but there are several reasons:
- many of the women are retired so are able to do a class in the morning;
- older women are more likely to be in a flexible working situation/their own business so they can attend regularly;
- many of us don’t have to worry about periods anymore;
- we don’t have small children to look after;
- and being a gentler, less painful way to exercise, aqua aerobics definitely appeals to a more mature demographic!
There is one lady in my Tuesday class, who is 90! I’m so impressed by her – I want to be like that as I get older too.
I’m so glad I finally took the plunge (see what I did there, LOL) and gave aqua aerobics a try.
Although – I wonder how committed I will be when winter comes? The pool might be indoors and heated, but we will see …
Has anybody else done aqua aerobics through winter? Any tips?!
Linking up for IBOT with Kylie Purtell.
Good on you Janet! … those photos at the beginning made me giggle 🙂
I had fun picking them! We’re not allowed to take pics at the pool so this is what I came up with instead ….
I love that you are loving this! I would be keen to give it a try, but don’t do swimmers real well just yet. (thats one of my projects this year) The Builder and I have started Crossfit, and we are surprised to find we are LOVING it!! It certainly is hard on the body, but seems to be a good fit for us. x
Now that is something that terrifies me – cross fit!
Good on you for finding a form of exercise that suits your needs and sticking to it!
I so want to be like that 90 year old in your class! She sounds inspirational!
Ingrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
I just hope I can keep it up through winter!
Good on you. It doesn’t actually matter what exercise you do it matters that you get yourself out there to stay fit. #teamIBOT
That’s what I figure too Nat x
Good for you ! I use to love water aerobics, maybe I should give it a go again. Maybe once I have lost a bit more weight.
Hey, we are twins after all, so you have to do it!
Good on you Janet… I always love attending Acqua class but after having a baby its hard but sometimes I do manage to go there and I never regret my decision of going there.
Wow 90 thats awesome…I wish I will be as fit as her when I reach that age even though I am not even 30 lol
Yes I can imagine it would be a lot trickier to manage with small children!
I’ve got friends who can’t get enough of aqua, both teaching classes and attending. I am like a baby elephant in the water, I once nearly attacked myself with a pool noodle. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the instructor told me not to worry about doing all the exercises as I was pregnant, when I was not pregnant at all, just “curvy.” I never went back after that! I’m pleased you’ve found something that floats your boat (see what I did there?) and as for winter, I thought there was no such thing in Queensland!
Haha there are days when I feel like I’m almost drowning, but it’s good for a giggle!
Go you! Keep it up and you will slowly lose some weight as well. I started my water baby “stuff” with the aqua classes, but then took up swimming after teaching myself at the age of 50+ (I think you read my post on the blog). Now I swim laps, am up to 1000m and I follow up with a half hour of self taught aqua resistance training. Love it. Always feels as if I’ve had a grease and oil.
Ooo I hope you’re right Liz! You are such an inspiration, I’m no good at swimming so perhaps I will follow in your footsteps (flippers?!)
Well if a 90 year old can do it then it may be the thing I’ve been looking for! I used to swim in a heated pool in Sydney during Winter. That was when I was in my twenties though. It sounds like the ideal way to maintain flexibility. Now I just need to retire! I love the pug 🙂
It was a bit brisk yesterday, and the warm pool was luvverley!!!! Maybe aqua in winter won’t be so bad!
I was going to aqua aerobics here for a while too – when I first joined a gym. I enjoyed it and it was a much older class as well as it was midmorning and filled with retirees who were free at 10.30.
I gather the 6am class is slightly younger as there are a few working people there.
I hit a bit of a wall however and felt like I was too obviously working much harder than everyone else. (They were 20yrs my senior) but I felt like I was showing off and lapping them when running and doing stuff. Really I just wanted to push myself more. I think I should have tried a harder class but it wasn’t an option and then I moved anyway, so….
I do think it was good for muscle definition though as we did a lot of weights in the class I did.
We have some people who do everything at twice the pace of the rest of us … meh … just do it however suits you!
I may have missed this , how many times a week are you going?
Hi Christine, twice a week – I first blogged about it here: https://middleagedmama.com.au/what-is-aqua-aerobics-like/ 🙂
Now that sounds like fun! How many times a week do you go? Do you notice any issues with your hair or skin drying out from all the chlorine?
Hi Eileen! I go twice a week, I have noticed my hair needs conditioning after an aqua class, something I don’t normally bother with (see this post: https://middleagedmama.com.au/i-dont-use-conditioner-any-more/)
Good on you! I tried it once and was surprised at how hard it was!
LOL yes it does get easier though as you build up your stamina and fitness 🙂
I recently looked at getting some hydrotherapy for aches and pains but sadly I can’t – exactly for the reason you said above – the classes are all during the day. Was quite disappointed that there were no evening or weekend options as I think it would have been good for me.