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Every exercise is based on what I teach weekly in real pools, designed with safety as a top priority and tailored for adults of all ages and fitness levels.

By Shadi Aljohran

Teaching aqua fitness since 2002 with a Coaching and Sport Management degree. My unique aqua exercises have been developed over the course of decades and have been praised by members of my aqua fitness community.
 

Aqua Exercises: Your Aqua Fitness Guide


 

 

Aqua Exercises Benefits

 

One of the best things about aqua exercises is that you don't have to be a strong swimmer to participate. In fact, many of the exercises can be done in shallow water, making them accessible to people of all skill levels. The buoyancy of the water also provides suitable resistance for your muscles, making your workout more challenging and effective. Plus, the cool water is a refreshing way to beat the heat and stay cool during your workout. And don't forget the fun part of working out in a refreshing pool.

 

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Your Ultimate Aqua Exercises Resource

 

Our Aqua Exercises guides have you covered with regularly updated exercises, presented through engaging animations. We want to make sure that you never run out of ideas for your aquatic workouts. Our library includes shallow and deep water, with or without equipment, and features various workout styles and intensities. Additionally, we provide expert tips and techniques that can transform your splashes into fitness achievements. 

 

What do we offer?

 

Each exercise comes with detailed tips on performance, the muscles worked, breathing techniques, and variations for different skill levels. Our visuals also provide detailed muscle maps to help you understand how each exercise affects your muscles. 

 

All of our exercises are original and have been thoroughly reviewed for safety and effectiveness. By following our aqua exercises guide, you will always keep your workouts fresh and safe. 

 

To get a clearer picture, check out the Exercise Library

Character performing aqua exercises for arms showing from underwater angle
Underwater view showing a sequence of cross country skii moves that demonstrate moving forward.

Exercise Example: Cross Country Glide

This deep-water exercise is inspired by the classic Aqua Cross-Country Ski technique, which people usually perform on the spot. In this variation, you will attempt to glide as you pull and kick. The key is to move forcefully when pulling back to propel yourself, and relax when bringing your arms and legs forward.  

 

Aiming to glide as far as possible adds purpose to your movements and creates a rhythm that synchronizes pushing and easing, which is great for training your coordination and motor skills. 

 

You can use this principle to create similar exercises from almost any move in deep water. 

 

 



 

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We believe the best workouts happen when you’re having fun and feeling supported. Our blog is a collection of real advice, from recovery tips to the stories that keep us moving every day.

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8 Aqua Fitness Facts Everyone Should Know

1

Water can be a pleasant and supportive environment so move with intention and effort when exercising. 

2

Water buoyancy allows you to move with more flexibility because of its supportive nature that relieves pressure on your spine and joints.

3

Waves from splashing in the pool create something called "unpredictable resistance," mimicking real-life balance challenges (like walking on uneven terrain)

4

Did you know that aqua exercises can help with land-based sports, like running and boxing? Performing these movements in water creates unique challenges that improve performance on land.

5

Did you know that Jack LaLanne, the fitness legend, invented modern aqua aerobics in the 1950's?

6

In aqua exercises, water temperature matters; cold water burns more calories while warm water helps relax your muscles.

7

You can participate in aqua exercises even if you are not a swimmer. In fact, aqua exercises might actually help you learn to swim more quickly. By challenging your body in the pool, you'll build water confidence, physical strength, coordination, and balance, all of which are essential skills for swimming. 

8

Exercising in deeper water increases effort for cardio, while shallow areas focus on balance, allowing endless creativity in routines

Fresh Aqua Exercises Ideas to Get Creative in the Pool

 

Don't limit your workouts to traditional pool exercises when you can come up with creative movements yourself. Look for inspiration from land-based exercises like lunges or calf raises and see if you can modify them for pool workouts. You can even come up with completely new moves if you know a bit of anatomy, like how joints align and how muscles engage with different moves. The point is not to be afraid of getting creative as long as you're staying safe. This can also include using existing exercises to create your own routines or variations, such as changing the speed, combining different moves, or adding resistance. Make sure to test your custom exercises in the pool first to make sure they feel good, comfortable, pain-free, and safe.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Aqua Exercises (FAQ)

Is Exercising in Shallow Water bad for Knees?

Not necessarily! It all depends on the moves and how deep the shallow end is. The deeper you are submerged, the more support you will have. 

Can I build muscles in the pool?

You can, but not the big-sized type that people usually get by lifting weights. Water resistance has a different effect, which helps achieve lean muscle tone, rather than bulk. 

Can I lose weight in the pool?

Absolutely! Aqua exercises are fantastic for weight loss. Water buoyancy eases the pressure on your joints, which makes your movement safer and more effective. However, you will burn fewer calories in the pool as opposed to land-based exercises. This means you will need to work longer and harder to get the same results.

Can pool workouts replace land exercises?

Not entirely. While exercising in water improves most fitness areas, there are parts where it falls short. For example, water's buoyancy reduces gravitational impact on bones, which may limit their growth. 

Want to Keep Exploring?

There are plenty more aqua exercises waiting for you. Browse the complete collection in our Aqua Exercises Library

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Body Sway exercise Twists exercise Hug3 exercise Press Jog Forward exercise
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