GET FIT
THE WATER’S FINE
IMPROVE STRENGTH, BALANCE AND FLEXIBILITY WITH AQUA CARDIO WORKOUTS.
BY KATARINA KOVACEVIC
exercise longer in the water with less worry
of associated muscle pain or soreness.
At Sea Island, water workout classes take
place five days a week. In the 45-minute
Aqua Fit session, participants use special
belts that keep them buoyant while working
core muscles. There’s a strong focus on purposeful movement, moving slower, stretching and really getting the extension needed
to strengthen key body parts. With the blue
Georgia sky up above, the deep-water class
takes place in Sea Island’s 25-meter outdoor
pool and is an effective combination of cardio, endurance and flexibility.
Those who are ready to amp up their routine
can sign up for a private water workout with
a trainer or try Sea Island’s Shallow Water
Aerobics class, where they’ll use the pool floor
to work and push harder. More of a pure cardio
session, the class is approximately 35 minutes
of walking and running in the water, followed
by moves that work the upper body—including
triceps, biceps and shoulders. Shallow Water
Aerobics is all about the pool toys: webbed
gloves for added resistance, foam buoys for
bicep curls, and even pool noodles for stretching and strengthening. It all takes place in the
resort’s state-of-the-art 65,000-square-foot spa
and fitness center.
Sea Island’s water workout classes are a
healthy option for every family member at
any fitness level. “Even people who are nonswimmers can do water aerobics,” Choate
says. “They’re especially comfortable in the
deep water because the belt keeps them safe.
So many of us don’t get the flexibility and
relaxation that we need, and that’s something
that the water offers.” m
PHOTO BY JOHNSON PICTURES INC.
d
uring the spring and summer
months, being drawn to the water
is only natural—whether it’s for
lounging on the beach or splashing around in a pool. The warm-weather
necessity is also a useful workout tool; with a
little guidance, active bodies can burn calories
and build strength while taking a dip.
“Working out in the water gives your
body the ability to move with a wide range
of motion,” says M.J. Choate, one of
Sea Island’s fitness instructors. “We should
all be in the water more often.” It’s true—
in the pool we can bend in ways that aren’t
always possible on land. But, that’s just
the beginning. Water-based exercise can
decrease the risk of chronic illness, advance
the use of ailing joints, and even improve
mental health and mood. You can also
Water workouts allow for a wider range of motion and less chance of injury.
24 SEA ISL AND LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2015
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