For an invigorating start to the school year, try out pool sports

Pool sports are gentle on your joints, strengthen your muscles and improve your cardio. Plus, it’s a real stress-relieving activity. Don’t hesitate to dive in!

Back to school is here, and with it, its share of good resolutions. Number 1 to approach the start of the school year with complete peace of mind: I’m starting sport ! For its anti-stress virtues. During exercise, our brain secretes endorphins, the happiness hormone with analgesic virtues that reduces the sensation of pain, provides a feeling of pleasure and reduces stress and anxiety, just like when it is in water… So to combine business with pleasure, what if we started doing sports in a pool?

Pool sports: ideal for relaxing and exercising

Swimming is an ultra-complete sport, as everyone knows. This activity uses all the muscles in the body. But, if a session of lengths in the Olympic pool will provide a feeling of well-being, it will bore more than one. Many swimming pools and sports clubs therefore offer more entertaining, but also muscularly effective water sports. Follow the leader !

1 – Aqua gym

Today a classic of the genre, the strong point of this activity is that it does not generate no danger for jointssince the impacts are limited with water. In addition, you feel particularly light. Aquagym does not require a physical condition ” optimal “, you just need to feel capable and not have any medical contraindications.

Aquagym allows you to sculpt your body : all the muscles are in action. Finally, the movements of the water exert massages to stimulate circulation: bye bye cellulite !

2 – L’aqua cycling

Sometimes called aquabiking or aquabike; this activity consists of pedaling underwater! It is a gentle activity since the body is immersed. But this does not affect the effectiveness in any way, quite the contrary.

Since water exerts resistance, it goes without saying that you don’t spare your efforts with this activity: climbs, descents, sitting on the saddle or standing on your bike, the coach is there to motivate you during these hyper-dynamic sports sessions.

Saddled in the water © wavebreakmedia

3 – L’aqua running

This is a fairly recent activity. The principle is similar to aqua cycling except that this time, no more cycling, The “aqua jogger” runs in the water, on a treadmill. No more post-jogging knee pain, aqua running prevents impacts and combines endurance effort with the benefits of hydromassage. You significantly firm up your lower body and burn a lot of calories.

The body benefits from the benefits of hydromassage. Thus, the movements of the water act as a massage, toning and activating circulation, which is ideal for eliminating cellulite.

Son cousin, water training is also super effective. The session consists of running in the water with a flotation belt. And, if you want to make it more difficult, you can attach weights to your ankles and wrists. Guaranteed effectiveness.

Some pools are equipped with a specific circular basin for running. Running is done with the body immersed up to the shoulders in a hydromassage current. To make the exercise more difficult, turn around and run against the current: excellent for blood circulation and leg tone.

The benefits of pool sports

All these water sports have common virtues, they are practice gently. The joints are not or very little stressed. Because they limit the impacts, water sports can be practiced even if you tend to have painful joints, at any age and even if you have a few extra pounds. In addition, these sports do not require knowing how to swim.

4 – Aquapunching or aquaboxing

The interest of this sport lies in its propensity to let off steam. After a warm-up, recommended for any sporting activity, such as aqua gym, you are off to chain together boxing movements, feet and fists.

Aquaboxing combines the practice of a martial art and aquatic art © Giorgio Rossi

A perfect mix between combat sport and aquatic sport, it is a a very fun way to regain tone and vitality.

The movements are really similar to kickboxing: for the fists you will chain together straight punches, hooks and uppercuts and for the feet, you will chain together “kicks”. This sport therefore allows you to practice your endurance, but also balance and flexibility.

5 – L’aqua-streching

Nothing like aqua-stretching for gain flexibility and strengthen your back. During a session, you will do a series of exercises involving the upper and lower body. You will be asked to stretch your shoulder blades, back and lower back as much as possible. For the lower body, thighs, calves and ankles will be used.

Aquastretching helps you gain flexibility and muscle range © Nomad_Soul

The exercises can be practiced with accessories: foam “noodles” to help you find your balance in the water, board to work your abs, ball to work your thighs, etc.

6 – L’aqua body

This activity will allow you to strengthen mainly the lower body: stomach, thighs and buttocks are put to the test! Aqua body is a bit like aqua gym in a more dynamic version. Indeed, The exercises follow a frantic pace !

Many accessories are used to increase the difficulty: mini-boots, webbed gloves, dumbbells, etc.

Good for cardio, refining your figure and quite fun, these water sports have something to deserve your interest.

Article updated