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WATER FITNESS
FRISBEE FITNESS H2O
Lightweight, portable and easily available, the frisbee can facilitate
a challenging workout when used as an aquatic tool, writes aqua
educator Dominic Gili.
ost of us will associate the frisbee
with our childhood. Growing up, I
spent hours in the park or at the
beach with friends throwing, chasing, and
sometimes even catching, the simple plastic
disc. It was all about fun in the sun, with no
thought given to any fitness benefits.
Since the late 1950’s, frisbee has
developed
a
reputation
beyond
a
recreational activity. The sport formerly
known as ‘Ultimate frisbee’ (and now simply
‘Ultimate’ for copyright reasons) is now
recognised at international competition
level, with the rules and tactics similar to
those of netball and soccer. Players of
Ultimate require speed, agility, endurance,
strength and coordination, and replicating
this activity in the water is a challenging and
engaging training activity for sport teams
and school groups.
But the real workout begins when we take
the frisbee below the surface of the water.
For instructors keen to innovate their aqua
fitness classes, the frisbee presents a great
option. Lightweight, portable and easily
available, the frisbee can be deceptively
challenging in the water. It can be adapted
into a traditional aqua fitness class while
offering clients a very different and positive
workout experience.
From a class design and teaching
perspective, Frisbee Fitness H2O exercises
are easy for clients to follow and make a great
addition to a circuit style class. The time you
allocate to frisbee-focused workouts within
each class will vary depending on the clients
in attendance.
The neutral buoyancy of the frisbee
M
56 | NETWORK WINTER 2019
The aqua version may not be there yet, but the land-based frisbee game of Ultimate is eligible for inclusion
in the 2024 Olympic Games