Exercise & Fitness
Exercises to try in the pool right now
If you're spending more time in a pool this summer, consider doing water workouts.
- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
Pools are ideal spots for playing, cooling, and relaxing, and they're also great for exercising. Water resistance makes the heart and muscles work hard. Our buoyancy in water takes pressure off the joints, making movement less painful than it might be on land. And exercising in water always provides a soft landing if you lose your balance. Many people swim laps to take advantage of these benefits. You can also do a series of exercises as you would in a home workout routine.
We've provided some exercises to help get you started on a water workout. You'll find even more in the Harvard Special Health Report Aqua Fitness (/af).
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
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