Aqua Fitness is one of the most popular and enjoyable forms of group exercise. No matter what your fitness level the water offers an environment that allows the participant to set their own pace and work at their own intensity. The multidimensional aspect of water encourages muscular balance and helps improve co-ordination.

Aqua Fitness significantly improves cardiovascular strength, muscular strength / endurance levels, flexibility and reduce body fat. The buoyancy of the water provides an almost injury free environment by reducing impact on joints and increasing joint spacing. Water buoyancy provides freedom of movement and is a "softer" environment with tremendous training potential; studies show that intensity levels are directly related to the effort that is applied to the water (the resistance up to 42 times greater in water than air). Submersion provides privacy where people can experience the class without fear of having to "keep up" with the group. What many people are unaware of is that some of the world's elite sportsmen and women use water as an important part of their training, football, rugby and cricket regularly use water to train.

In fact Mohammed Ali, possibly the greatest boxer ever, credits his famous shuffle and speed of movement to training in water.

Water exercise can be performed in different depths from shallow to deep water. The ability to swim is not essential as water exercise is performed in a vertical position. There are many pieces of Aquatic Equipment that can be used in the water to increase the intensity of the class or to provide buoyancy for deep-water programs. For example foam dumbbells held in the hand, Aqua Step, Noodles, Mitts etc. The moves are specific to the equipment and ability of the participants.

Benefits of Aquatic Fitness:

• 1:1 or group exercise

• A low impact workout without strain

• Working heart rate is reduced in water therefore great benefits for cardiac rehab and high blood pressure clients.

• Increases and maintains bone density

• Works muscles that are rarely used on land

• Vertical exercise continually challenges core stabilisers

• Improves blood circulation and reduces water retention

• Improves quality of sleep

• Though the body perspires with exercise there is no uncomfortable sweaty feeling

• Water can hide the self conscious exerciser

• Increases serotonin the endorphins that stimulate the feelings of happiness

“You should not stop exercise because you grow old - you grow old because you stop exercise” Steph Toogood (Hydro-Actif)