Splash Your Way to Fitness

American Fitness, July, 2000 by Elizabeth Heubeck

Make waves in your water workout with equipment, apparel and instructional videos.

Consider these revealing statements form students in my aqua fitness class: "I can't wait to go shopping this weekend. Taking these classes has helped me drop 30 pounds."

"The only time during my pregnancy I don't feel huge and bloated is when I'm exercising in water. It has really elevated my energy level."

"I don't need to use my cane anymore."

These testimonials from committed aquatics enthusiasts prove that water provides the perfect medium for meeting health and fitness goals. Rarely can you find an environment that offers 12 times the resistance of air, zero impact for stress-free joints and a naturally built-in cooling system that makes sticky, icky sweat a non-issue. Additionally, with the wide selection of aqua fitness equipment, apparel and instructional devices currently flooding the market, there's never been a better time to get involved in aqua fitness.

Add Buoyancy and Resistance to Your Workout

The right equipment can enhance your water workout appreciably. Generally, this equipment falls into two categories: buoyant and resistant.

Buoyant equipment gives non-swimmers the security to participate in aqua classes and enables entire sessions to be conducted in deep water (eliminating all impact to the joints). In shallow water, it gives the body extra support.

Then there's resistance equipment. Since the density of water is 12 times greater than air, it provides plenty of resistance. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), a nationally-recognized professional organization that sets standards of exercise prescription, recognizes the role resistive equipment plays in maintaining lean body mass and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

While there's no shortage of aqua fitness equipment, sorting through the options can be overwhelming. To find what's right for you, identify your goals and then use the lists below to find equipment that will help you attain them.

Resistance Equipment

* Aqua Runners (footwear)

Function: Enhances deep water workout by adding to resistance; has a comfortable foam slip-on design.

Material: EVA foam with adjustable Velcro[TM] strap

Cost: $25.95

Contact: Dr. Laski of Southside Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida, at (800) 60-DOCTORS

* Aquatic Webbed Glove (hand equipment)

Function: Intensifies upper body workout. Side zipper makes slipping them on and off simple. Its slip-on design requires no gripping (ideal for arthritis sufferers).

Material: Neoprone

Cost: $16.95

Contact: Splash International at (888) 775-2744

* Gyrojoggers (hand and foot "rings")

Function: Versatile, multi-functional equipment which adds resistance and buoyancy; can be used as "gloves" for water boxing classes; offers resistance for upper body work in shallow water and resistance for lower body while deep water jogging (when placed around the ankles). With a connector bar, it can be used as a "therapy stabilizer bar." It is constructed of two hoops; removing one hoop decreases resistance.

Material: Softskin foam

Cost: $49.95

Contact: Splash International at (888) 775-2744

* Hydro-Boots (footwear)

Function: 3-D configuration maximizes resistance in all directions; used by Olympic athletes, trainers, physical therapists and doctors.

Material: Plastic with ultraviolet and chlorine-resistant material; cushion portion is rubber foam.

Cost: $109.95

Contact: Hydro-tone Fitness Systems, Inc., at (800) 622-TONE

* Hydro-tone Rubber Water Workout Gloves (hand equipment)

Function: Intensifies upper body workout; slip-on design requires no gripping (ideal for arthritis sufferers).

Caution: tends to stick to skin when wet, making for difficult transition in water.

Material: Strong, flexible silicone rubber

Cost: $19.95

Contact: Hydro-tone Fitness Systems, Inc., at (800) 622-TONE

* Water Weight Bells (hand equipment: bar bells)

Function: Offer resistance and a comfortable grip; can also be used for flotation support by filling it with water.

Material: Hollow poly-propylene plastic

Cost: $24.95

Contact: Hydro-tone Fitness Systems, Inc., at (800) 622-TONE

Buoyancy Equipment

* AquaJogger Classic belt (buoyancy belt)

Function: Suspends body in water at shoulder level, offering security and freedom to perform workouts in both shallow and deep water. Contoured design supports lower back, narrowing around waist for a comfortable fit. Demands use of trunk muscles to maintain vertical position; fits buoyancy needs of 75 percent of the population.

Material: 1 1/4" closed-cell foam (dries quickly)

Cost: $42.95

Contact: Dr. Laski of Southside Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida, at (800) 60-DOCTORS. (Adaptations of the original AquaJogger belt are made of the same quality closed-cell foam.)

* AquaJogger Fit for Women

Function: Contoured, enhanced fit for women; fits above hip bone and below rib cage.

Cost: $42.95

Contact: Dr. Laski of Southside Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida, at (800) 60-DOCTORS

* AquaJogger Pro

Function: Accommodates low body fat and dense muscular frames of athletes, offering 30 percent more buoyancy than the Classic. Additional foam gives support to those moving more slowly in water because of injury.