If you are suffering from arthritis or other chronic conditions involving joint or back pain, water fitness might just be your key to a virtually painless and injury-free training. In water you weigh about one tenth of your weight on land. Thus, water workouts cause less strain on your joints and increase your range of motion as the liquid supports the weight of your limbs.

At the same time water provides you with 12 times as much resistance as air. Therefore, by exercising in water you are conditioning all your muscle groups at once as they are worked out into very direction. Muscles, skin and connective tissue are gently massaged and toned resulting in an improved circulation and more muscle flexibility while preventing post-workout soreness. According to recent research water fitness might even help maintain bone integrity and prevent osteoporosis.

What’s more, due to the hydrostatic pressure of water there are cardiovascular benefits comparable to those of cycling and running. Since water lowers the body’s temperature aqua fitness revs up your metabolism and promotes weight loss.

It doesn’t matter whether you prefer breaststroke, free style, backstroke or aqua aerobics as long as you don’t overuse certain muscle groups. Just remember to switch between styles for increased variety, effect and fun!