Cardio exercises are loved by some and hated by others, but most everyone agrees they are necessary to whip any body fit, especially moreso when incorporating a good cardio routine to help stay in tip-top shape.
There are tons of machines in most gyms that give you different ways of getting a good cardio workout–elliptical machines, stair masters, treadmills and bikes, just for kicks. It seems the more you pay for a health club, the better technology you’ll get for burning off the fat.
All of those aforementioned tools are super ways to burn calories and help you to be physically fit, however, it is nice to change things up sometimes and do try challenging exercises that can be just as beneficial as your normal cardio machines. That, my friends, is where running in water (AKA aqua jogging) comes in!
Running is a great way to burn calories, stay in shape, and help prevent some diseases–although, running in water offers you some additional benefits that running on land or treadmill don’t. Running in water will still burn calories and keep you in shape, however, in addition, it also provides resistance for a better strength training exercise.
Your legs will be getting the benefits of a strength training exercise without the weight bearing stress on them! You are also going to be forcing opposing muscles to work when you swing your arms through the water, so consider all of this when pondering a water exercise sessions–it will give you the benefits of running on land and provide you with a strength training exercise.
One more thing to mention here, besides the solid muscle building this will help your body accomplish…it’s also a great way to increase your speed, thus making you go faster! Some professional athletes have used water running as a way to increase sprinting endurance.
On top of that, you’re less likely to get injured from running in water as opposed to land because you will be reducing the stress that you are putting on your joints. This means less shin splints, muscle strains, stress fractures, pelvic, groin, knee and ankle disorders because you aren’t putting the stress on your joints that land running does. Running in water is also great for helping you practice form.
If you do happen to be injured or manage to get injured, running in water can also be a great way to stay in shape without risking further injury. You can imitate the same range of motion as you would if you were running on a hard surface–but in water you don’t ever have to make contact with pavement or a hard surface! This will allow you to maintain optimal cardio levels during your workout, all the while recovering from injury. For that reason alone, many, many physical therapists use “running in water” as a cornerstone technique for rehabbing their patients.
So, now you’re seriously considering the closest place to perform your first water session, right!? Continue on for a couple extra tips!
Many folks suggest purchasing a flotation vest if you’re regularly going to run in water. This will allow you to stay afloat while allowing you to continue your running motion. You can also buy other water devices such as, dumbbells, socks and belts. This will allow you to increase your intensity and add more resistance if desired.
Having a workout routine that is diverse and challenging each time you perform it is key to success. Also, getting into the routine of always offering challenge to the body with new workouts and cardio exercise routines. Running in water is a nice way to change up your routine and keep from getting bored with the same old mundane workouts. We guarantee that if you attempted just one water workout, you’ll find it the most healthy, calorie burning fun you’ve had with your body in a long time!
Get on with something new, and give running in water (or aqua jogging) a try today! Below you can watch various videos of this exercise, both with a machine and also featuring a floatation device.
