Water Aerobics: How it benefits you and what to expect

Water aerobics goes back all the way to the 1950s and has continually grown in popularity over the decades with its benefits of building endurance and flexibility and reduce joint pain. It is also enjoyable, which keeps people coming to class again and again. Alexis Penn, Water Aerobics Instructor at Cooper Fitness Center, says, “the classes can be challenging but are always much fun which creates a great opportunity for social participation and class engagement.”

Penn began teaching water aerobics more than 30 years ago. She was teaching indoor group exercise classes while pregnant dealing with symptoms such as swollen ankles. She asked her class at the time if they would help her out and have the classes in the water to help alleviate her symptoms, and there began her love for working out in the water.

Debbie Koeppel, a Water Aerobics Instructor at Cooper Fitness Center of three years, initially participated in water aerobics as a hobby. She enjoyed it so much that she became a certified instructor. “All ages can participate, and it’s a fun environment. I couldn’t wait to get certified and share the experience with others!”

Water aerobics is for everyone! Taking water aerobics classes has been known to help individuals who are injured or avoiding strain to their body due to age or health issues. Participants enjoy the many benefits of water aerobics:

• Improves flexibility
• Increases endurance
• Burns calories
• Is a full-body workout
• Relieves stress

Many exercises performed on land can also be performed in the water. Water has a natural resistance, making it harder to push than if you were on land. Koppel explains that “the resistance in the water gives you the opportunity to work on your resilience since the water is pushing against your movements.”

Koeppel shares five ways the resistance can challenge your movements in the water:

1. Range of motion
2. Speed
3. Suspended moves (holding position for a period of time)
4. Acceleration
5. Ease in traveling within the pool

What to expect
Getting in the water can be difficult for those who fear the water or do not know how to swim. Penn explains, “you’re never underwater and in many classes, you perform exercises in water that’s somewhere between your waist and chest height. It’s important to remember that you are in a safe and controlled environment.” For Koeppel, she changes levels of difficulty throughout the class which involves water up to the hips, water up to the shoulders and lastly with feet off the pool floor. “If you are only comfortable doing the exercises in the first or second level of the class, that is fine. While Cooper Fitness Center has shallow pools for their classes, floatation equipment is advised for those who need it,” says Koeppel. Floatation devices are always allowed and even encouraged for people to gain the ultimate benefits of water aerobics. She also wants people to remember not to overexert themselves, and only do what your body is capable of.

Some of the most common aerobics exercises include:

• Squats and lunges
• Jogging
• Kicks
• Rocking horse
• Jumping jacks

Both Koeppel and Penn emphasize how important it is for them to keep the class enjoyable and engaging. In addition to the movements, as with any group exercise class, the music played has a significant impact on a person’s enjoyment of the class. Many styles of music can be incorporated into the classes. They also strive to have lots of interaction among participants in their classes to create a community of participants who love exercising in water.

Cooper Fitness Center offers 11 water aerobics classes per week April through October. For the group exercise schedule of more than 120 weekly classes—all included with membership—visit cooperfitnesscenter.com or call 972.233.4832.