Water Polo/Swimming
Some of my greatest memories from when I was younger come from the time when I was on a youth swimming team. As soon as I would hit the water, I would feel like a fish who had finally been returned to the water. Incorporating it these days as a gym sport was easy and fun.
The pool in my gym is a good size pool, not Olympic size, bit sufficient none the less. Luckily, they also organize an intramural water polo team which is incredibly fun. For those of you who have never played water polo, I want you to picture a game of soccer in a pool. Water polo gym workouts are even more exhausting than they sound, which is why it makes a great gym sport.
When you are in the pool, you don’t even feel like you are even working out. It’s only when you step out that you can feel how sore your muscles are.
Making the water polo a weekly gym sport was an easy decision. However, taking the swimming aerobics class took a bit of convincing. I guess I sort of doubted how an actual class could give you a good workout. But after taking the class once, I was shocked by how worked my muscles felt.
Besides water polo gym workouts, even simply swimming laps for a while is a phenomenal way to burn calories and get in better shape. Most gyms with swimming pools will have designated times for laps. It’s also a great workout for senior citizens, because the water is better for brittle bones and bad joints. Since the gravity isn’t as strong, there is less pressure in the joints.
It is also a phenomenal way to end your workout. I particularly enjoy it after my kickboxing class or using one of the multi gyms. When you aren’t swimming too fast, it feels great. Sometimes I’ll even do my stretching in the pool.
Even not treating it as a gym sport and playing a game of Marco Polo or water volleyball can a great way to burn calories without even realizing it.
Like tennis and golf, certain gyms may not have a pool, so always inquire before joining. If they don’t, you could also look into a community pool.
You’ll want to watch out for the chemicals like chlorine that are put into the pool. They are needed, especially since so many people share the pool each day. Click here to check out some great goggles to keep your eyes from getting red and dried out.
Tags: fitness, fitness club, fitness sport, Gym Sport, gym sports, Home Gym Sport, pool, Sport Fitness, swimming, water polo, water polo gym workouts