Exercising Swimmingly

By now, we all know that staying home as much as possible is best for everyone. For those of us who like to go to the gym or community centre for exercise and activity, the staying at home may feel like a bummer. However, add your own personal pool into the mix and it changes everything!

Swimming has always been a much-loved activity. It’s a fantastic way to exercise that is full-body, easy on the joints, and (perhaps best of all) fun! You’re far more likely to work-out if you actually enjoy the process.

So, McBurney Pools and Spas has compiled a short list of fantastic exercises you can do in the pool. These will help keep you looking good and feeling better through any lockdown:

1. Water Running: Aka Aqua Jogging. So simple! No equipment required, easy to learn, and does wonders for you. Get into the pool so the water is just below your neck. Then, just as you would on land, begin to run. Make sure to engage your whole body, straighten your back, and make fists with your hands. Try to ‘run’ through the water as fast and hard as you can. Do 3 rounds (or as many as you can) of 5-minute running intervals. That will get your heart rate up!
2. Kicking: This one may not be the most exciting, but it can really help strengthen your core. Hold a kickboard in front of your body at arm’s length. Tighten your core muscles while you kick your way across the length of the pool. Try out different styles of kicks as you work through to help activate different muscle groups.
3. Water Crunches: Float in the water on your back perpendicular to the side of the pool. Put your legs, from the knees up, on the deck of the pool, while the remainder of your body is flat in the water.  Use your abdominal muscles to pull your upper body up out of the water as far as you can. Use your muscles again to lower your body back into the water. Try to do 3 sets of 20 repetitions. The added resistance of the water will really put your muscles to work for this one. 

Remember, the best exercise is the one you’ll actually do – and swimming is the perfect combination of entertainment and exertion that will keep you coming back for more!