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By Vicky Waite
My dear friend, Rita who resides in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, keeps her pool open all year round. In the winter months her pool heat pump turns up the heat in no time flat, which puts her under water all year round. She has been asking me for the longest time to come see and check out her Acquapole. Yes. She does Acquapole fitness. It’s actually pole dancing under water, or if you are not into the dancing scene, then it’s a fun workout with a choice of numerous exercises underwater.
For those of you who don’t have a built-in heated pool, then do as many, join a pole dancing fitness class. Grab a bathing suit and join the trend. No 10-inch stiletto heels and G-string needed! It’s like heading to the gym, but more intense and much more exciting. Dance to the music!
I was much looking forward to taking the drive to Rita’s to see for myself about this new craze. There are different Acquapoles to purchase. Rita has the acquapole by Indigo Aquatics, which I couldn’t get enough of and it was hard for me to towel dry myself and get home. Yes, that much fun and in no way, shape or form did it feel like a workout! Did I say shape and form?
This is great for young people to seniors, lean to plus sizes, athletic to sedentary people. For those of you who know how to swim and also for those who are not able to swim. Fitness activities in water allow us to train without dangerous stress on the joints and to decrease the adverse effects of weight on our body. Pole fitness is an extension of pole dancing that uses the pole to its maximum potential as a versatile piece of fitness equipment. It works the whole body, improving muscle tone, coordination, posture, flexibility as well as upper body and core strength.
I am basically doing chin-ups, crunches to work my arms and abs. I’m even climbing to swan holds for my legs and bum. The list is endless. I continued with aqua aerobics, kickboxing and using my own body weight for resistance. And seniors, how many times have you heard the doctors recommending water fitness programs? No worries if you lose your grip, you can’t fracture a hip. If you fall back, the water will catch you.
I began to step it up and started doing scissor kicks and jumping jacks. The water provides resistance in all directions, with the hydrostatic pressure alleviating the stress on joints and the spine meaning it’s great for all fitness levels. Right about now I feel like “Charlie the Tuna” on steroids! The impact of gravity is less in the water allowing a greater range of motion. Water exercises are an excellent source of health and well-being for the heart, muscles and mind.
All the movements you do exerts a resistance 800 times greater in water than that in air. To all those who need rehabilitation therapy following an injury, you can’t go wrong with Acquapole. Water fitness reduces the risk of heart attacks and decreases stress levels. The Acquapole is for amateurs to athletes, men and women both from beginner to advanced, young and elderly, oversize and lean. And what a great fat burner! You can burn a higher number of calories in a shorter period of time.
Your body is keeping cool, which can help prevent overheating that can occur with other outdoor activities. Inserting the boxing bag, and T-trainer accessories, training in water with Acquapole transforms into a multifunctional aquatic workstation. Pregnant women can also benefit with Acquapole. Pregnant woman enhance muscle tone and stress resistance, allowing their body to adapt to the changes during pregnancy. Enormous benefits for the baby. Regular training promotes increased oxygenation in the mother’s blood which is transmitted to the fetus, and this means better nourishment.
Acquapole is great physical therapy for arthritis and sports injuries. They say happiness comes in WAVES. I couldn’t agree more. For more information visit www.acquapole.com. And, remember like with any other exercise program, always consult your physician before beginning.