Aqua aerobics are water-based exercises wherein water's buoyancy and resistant is used to tone ones body and burn calories. “Aqua aerobics or hydrotherapy is the most gently yet effective form of weight loss, muscle toning, stamina building and rehabilitation workout,” says fitness expert Mickey Mehta.

Aqua aerobics specialist Deepali Jain says, “Water offers 13 times more resistance than air thus making it an effective calorie burner. Along with that you weigh only ten per cent of your body weight, which eases the stress on the joints.” Though the work out is more intense, it is not exhausting because of water being therapeutic in nature. Hence, you can say that a thirty minute aqua aerobic session is equal to a two hours gym session and it enables you to lose 700 calories per hour. Dr Ushma Batra says, "If walking in the park, or garden, helps you burn 135 calories, deep water walking can burn about 265 calories."

“One can start aqua aerobics at any age. Currently, I have people from the age of 9 to 84 who practise it everyday, the only difference being the intensity,” she says. These exercises can be done at different water levels – from shallow to deep, with the shallow end being used for cardio and the deep end for resistance training. “We use aqua noodles for Pilates, tai chi and cardio exercises, dumbbells and ankle weights for resistance training and aqua resistance tubes and aqua balls to strengthen the core,” says Jain.

Besides being a great relaxant, water helps in doing a symmetrical work out which works out the entire body due to the hydrostatic pressure. Also there is no delayed onset of muscle soreness which is usually experienced post work outs in the gym. Jhanvi Vissanji who has been practising aqua aerobics for 2 years now swears by it. “Not only does it improve your metabolism and stamina, it also helps shape up your body. I have done yoga and been to the gym but this is the only form of exercise I have really stuck to,” she says.

Aqua aerobics is highly recommended for people suffering joint problems, osteoporosis and arthritis along with being a great post-surgery rehab. Dr Batra says, "Water aerobics keeps joint pain sufferers’ joints healthy and flexible just as much as it does to people who don’t have joint problems, but would like to maintain and promote good joint health."  74-year-old Jeevan Arora underwent a knee replacement surgery and was in agonising pain till she stumbled upon water aerobics and went ahead with it on her doctors’ advice. “Today, I feel much fitter and happier. My knees feel stronger, my blood circulation has improved and I sleep well. Besides that from being scared of the water, today I love swimming.”

From helping you tone up to losing weight or strengthening your joints, aqua aerobics is an enjoyable way of staying fit, with lesser impact and more intensity.

Picture credit: Wikipedia.org