1. Get Fit, Stay Fit

90. Give Water Exercise a Try

Water exercise (or aquatic exercise, as it’s sometimes called) is popular among people of all ages. Buoyed up by water, you feel light as a feather, and you can move in ways that are otherwise difficult or impossible yet still tone your muscles and improve your circulation, breathing, and endurance. You weigh 90 percent less in water than you do on land, easing the burden on weight-bearing joints like your hips, knees, and back. That means many people who find it difficult or painful to jog or perform other kinds of weight-bearing activities find it easier to work out in water. Water exercises take place in the shallow end of a pool, in waist- to chest-deep water, and you can usually hold on to the side of the pool for safety and comfort.

Water exercise is excellent for people who:

1. •Are over 50 years old.
   

2. •Suffer joint pain.
   

3. •Have weak leg muscles or back problems.
   

If any of these descriptions fit you, you might want to consider water exercise.