Splash Your Way To Fitness! 6 Awesome Water Based Workouts

There is something about splashing around in a swimming pool that brings back the good old days where we frolicked and played around in a pond during family picnics. Aqua fit classes are the newest and latest rage in Dubai and are a great way of a stupendous workout with nostalgia thrown in for measure. Here are some super- fun and sporty, water based workouts that will be worth every dime you spend.

Try this invigorating dance workout with a twist. The workout that you do, involves all the usual twisting, jumping and stretching while the water provides you with some much needed but gentle resistance. The instructors of Aqua Zumba swear by this workout saying that every time you move a litre of water, you are simultaneously also moving a kilogram in terms of resistance. The beauty of this is that it is easy on the muscles and joints and people from all age groups can avail of it. Aqua zumba classes are available at select Dubai locations like the Dubai Ladies club.

This aerobics workout has evolved to now include water boxing. It is a full toning regime and the session includes jumping as high as you can inside the water using the floor of the pool as a trampoline. You also need to run from one end of the pool to the other utilizing kicking and punching movements for maximum toning. The workouts are intense and people end up pitting against their own body weight which provides them with adequate resistance. The aerobics come in a number of variations like the Aqua Functional and Aqua Circuit Training.

With the vast expanse of beaches and azure blue waters, it’s no wonder that residents of Dubai have taken a keen interest in water surfing. When you catch the waves while surfing, it has a host of aerobic and anaerobic benefits. The constant movement keeps your heart rate up. The balancing on the surf board during a high wave is the ultimate test of your core competence, core strength and balance. Surf Dubai is the place to be if you want to learn the facets of this wonderful water sport. The association provides safe instructions and has earned for itself a huge fan following. The lessons are tailor-made for all age groups. 

While this does not typically come under the realm of being a water based workout and is more geared towards being a fun and adventurous activity, it is nevertheless a great workout because your body is in constant motion. So without even realising it you are working on improving your strength, agility, flexibility and confidence. It is relaxing, fun and once you get the hang of it you will consider it a technical feat as you start to explore the vast expanse of corals and reefs under water.

While bikes in a pool are bereft of the usual fancy screens and display monitors that you see in a typical gym, aqua bikes are created to stand sturdily on the pool floor as you furiously paddle away The pressure of the water creates just the right amount of resistance that is needed to torch calories and melt the fat away. The exercise can be made low impact or high impact depending on whether you wish to paddle seated or standing. Regular aqua biking classes are held all over Dubai for beginners as well as advanced cycling enthusiasts.

Water polo is one of the most arduous and comprehensive sporting activities that one can participate in. Women in particular tend to be very good at it because of their lower upper body weight which makes it easier for them to tread effortlessly in the water as they race to throw the ball into the net. This makes the sport very fast, racy, and adrenalin pumping. It is a great workout for strength, endurance and muscle building, simultaneously burning tonnes of calories. It also enhances team work as there are two teams who play against each other.