Discover the refreshing benefits of water sports

Make the most of the hot months to do sport and stay in shape. Sunlight, great temperatures and the absence of rain can be great allies to leave your laziness behind you and get moving.

Doing exercise in the water has additional benefits. Even if it’s only swimming in a pool or in sea water.

• Water affords added resistance meaning you have to make a greater effort and you burn
• Water slows down movement, there is less impact and this decreases the chance of injury.
• Salt water contains oligo elements which enter your body by osmosis.
• The muscles relax and it is easier for you to release tension.

Apart from classic swimming, which is a top quality aerobic exercise which exercises the whole body and improves your lung capacity, heart and circulatory performance, try these fun, stimulating and refreshing water sports:

1. Aqua gym. With water up to your waist. It helps improve your flexibility and resistance, tones your muscles, reduces blood pressure, improves venous return and lung capacity, helps avoid injury or falls and stimulates concentration and coordination. And its great fun.
2. Aqua running. Running in the water. With water up to our ankles, knees or thighs. Resistance enhances your strength, and there’s no risk of falls. Your balance also improves.
3. Aqua Zumba, aqua cardio or global aquatics. It consists in doing these usual gym exercises in water. The lesser impact make them less dangerous and suitable if you have had an injury of any kind. What’s more, Latin rhythms or dance music turn them into a fiesta under the water.
4. Hydro spinning. It is the same as spinning or indoor cycling, but in the water. Resistance to pedalling increases due to aquatic resistance and the leg exercise is intense. It decreases the pressure on your back and burns a lot of calories. The sessions are long and intense, only suitable if you are fit.
5. Water volleyball. With the water below your waist to help movement and cushion falls. You can play with friends and it is great fun.

All these disciplines and many other similar ones help release stress and relieve anxiety, they help you keep moving and your body as well as your mind active. They help you rest better and can be done at any age.

This post is also available in: Spanish