Zumba, yoga, and many other fitness classes are quickly being adapted into the water. Pilates is the newest fitness trend finding benefits in moving the class to the pool. Here is some more information on Aqua Pilates.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Pilates centers around body control and was developed in the early 20th Century. A primary principle of Pilates is focused breathing in unison with exercise. With Aqua Pilates, the importance of breathing and exercise is exaggerated.

Doing Pilates in the water creates a zero gravity environment. This can challenge your core, increase resistance, and advance your breathing in a way conventional Pilates cannot.

Want to give it a try? Here are a few exercises to get you started:

FROG

Place your feet a little wider than shoulder width apart, point your toes straight out, and hold your arms straight and parallel to the ground. Next, you should squat down and place the weight of your body on the balls of your feet so that your heels aren’t touching the ground. From there you push back up and put your heels down. That is one rep.

BICYCLE

Turn a pool noodle into a C and place it around your back for support. Straighten your body so your abdominals are stressed and legs are out. As you pull one leg toward your body, exhale. Inhale when you switch legs. Though the actions do mimic peddling a bicycle, this should be a slow, controlled movement.

SIDE STRETCH

In the pool, this exercise is done standing up and with a pool noodle. Put one arm above your head so that your ear and elbow are next to each other. Use the pool noodle and to push down with the other arm until it is straight. Lean over and stretch toward the arm that is down. Hold that position for 30 seconds. Repeat for a few reps then switch arms.

PLANK

Stand with your feet a little past shoulder-width and hold a pool noodle in front of you. As you move your feet backward, push the noodle out further in front of you until your arms are straight. Move as far back as possible while keeping your feet flat on the floor. Hold that pose for 30 seconds for one rep.