If you are battling with menopause belly, the last thing you may want to do is ‘dorn a swimming cossie. Yet, that just might be the best thing you could do for your all-round health. As a small island girl, I love the water and swimming. When I moved to the UK swimming in the sea was a distant memory. Local pools were hard come by and honestly, it’s not the same, is it? A family staycation on the Isle of Wight that changed everything. The micro climate on the isle, makes sea swimming a pleasure. After that, every summer it had to be a beach holiday. You know what I noticed? The anxiety and gloom ushered in by menopause went away . These days I’m in the pool at least once per week. Aqua aerobics is my new jam. I do aqua aerobics even in winter.
What is Aqua Aerobics
Aqua Aerobics is low impact aerobics in water. Some classes use aqua fitness equipment, like a foam noodle or foam dumbbells. If it’s in a local gym the class could run for roughly 45 mins.
You don’t need to be able to swim. In an all-levels class, the water depth could be about 1.2m. However, you should feel confident in water for the best experience and by extension, the benefits.
General Benefits of Aqua
Any exercise is beneficial, especially if you are 50 plus. Best of all, when you find a regime you enjoy, it will never be a chore. You will look forward to it. I don’t know if it’s possible to dislike aqua aerobics but here are some benefits to aqua:
- The water makes you buoyant so there’s less stress on your joints and muscles
- The water resistance helps you to build strength
- Water pressure helps put less strain on the heart by moving blood around the body
- The impact of gravity is less in the water allowing a greater range of motion
- Working out in water helps prevent overheating (BIG bonus when you’re menopausal)
- Fosters body confidence
My personal experience is that aqua improved my stamina and strength to swim in open water. It even helped when I was caught in a rip tide. I need all my power to get out of it. Addtionally, as mentioned earlier it helped me manage some of my menopause sypmtoms.
Aqua Aerobics in Winter
I enjoy aqua aerobics even in the winter. Honestly, attending an aqua class in the evening is just the ticket to lift the mood and soothe away any tension before bed time. Sometimes I do mornings sometimes I attend and evening session depending on my schedule. The water temperature is warmer at this time of the year which is a welcome balm to achy joints.
If you find a gym that has a pool AND a steam room/sauna that’s gem! You can create your own wellbeing session at no additional cost to your usual gym fee. Certified fitness trainer and aqua aerobics instructor, Sara Cee says:
Aqua aerobics is great for overall fitness. If you are returning to exercise after certain injuries or medical conditions, the class is quite beneficial because there’s low to zero impact on joints. The upbeat music boosts endorphins which elevate mood and we could all do with a little bit of a happiness injection in the winter months
NOTICE: Always consult your GP before considering any new exercise regimes especially if you have an underlying health condition.
I hope I have tickled your interest to find a pool near you and inquire if they do aqua aerobic classes. Not convinced? Maybe Almost Sychro will inspire you. There’s something about being in water that truly helps some menopause symptoms.Try it and thank me later.
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