Water Fitness 101

Okay.  I'm trying not to be overzealous like your typical newbie.  But I really love my water fitness class!

I discovered when I was working with a personal trainer that having a baby and then carrying a kid around on the same hip all the time has left me very lopsided in terms of strength and balance.  Exercises classes help me to be sure I'm working on all the muscle groups and doing an even number of repetitions.  What makes water fitness so great is that the water slows the action down, so I have a little more time to think the motions through and get the form right with both sides of my body.  The slowness also makes it more mindful and peaceful.  Before I took my first class, I assumed that slowness was going to be a flaw in terms of getting a good workout.  I was wrong!  Every time I think, "Oh.  This next exercise is for the old ladies," I end up realizing how great it challenges me if I just stay focused and do the form correctly.  I feel like water fitness is sort of a crazy marriage between yoga and aerobics!

A certain amount of foot-dragging when it comes to joining a gym or trying a new class is knowing you're going to blunder along feeling silly at first.  Here are some tips I figured out for water fitness classes...

1.  What to bring -- Some pools require a bathing cap while others don't.  Some have towel services while some don't.  Here is what I always stuff into my pool bag...bathing suit, ponytail holders, flip-flops (for the locker room and shower), shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, a case to hold my glasses, a combination lock for the locker, change of clothes including undergarments and socks, a water bottle, and two towels.  More than one towel can come in handy if you accidentally drop yours or want a clean one after a shower.  Some of the participants wear aqua shoes, but I don't mind going without.  If you're going to a new pool, you might want to ask if you need to bring gear.  The Y provides the floatie noodles and foam dumbbells we use.

2.  Pool water can turn some silver jewelry dark, so I take mine off before I go in.

3.  Scope out the pool before you get in.  I'm tall, so it helped to learn that the front of the pool is slightly deeper than the back.  Deeper water helps me with the arm workouts.  It is also handy to know where the drain grates are in the pool.  In some of our classes we run in circles and I like avoiding the grates since I'm barefooted.  If your pool has lines on the bottom of it, you might want to claim an exercise spot on a line as it helps you to know if you're drifting while exercising.  Finally, I like to grab a spot near the pool edge.  Some of the exercises work best if you are stable and it is nice to be able to reach for the firm wall.

4.  Many exercises are easy if you do them sloppy, but challenging and rewarding if you pay attention to your form.  I love that.  When I get out of the pool, my body feels good but my brain does too because I've been focused for an hour.

I'm curious...
Would anybody like to offer a "101" blog entry for another type of exercise?  I think I'd be more likely to branch out if I had an inside view and some tips first.  I'm itching to try a yoga class.  Would anybody like to write a yoga class 101?