Summer! Water Sports to Try Again, or Try for the First Time!

It’s summertime, and the options for being active outside have never looked better. If you are searching for refreshing ways to build endurance and strength, pools, lakes, oceans, and rivers are unique places in which to work out.

Here is just a tiny sampling of the numerous ways to get fit while staying cool, with a host of health benefits.

• First, before you take to the water, ensure that your swimming skills are sufficient for the sports you want to engage in.
• Preventing a tragic drowning is within your control; swimming and practicing water safety is essential to exploring aquatic-based fitness and sports activities.
• Learning to swim is a great fitness activity in itself, so if you are not yet a swimmer, take advantage of your local swim clubs and learn to swim.

Swimming and water-based sports and activities can offer various health benefits, including cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and flexibility, and power. 

Deep Water Running

Wearing a buoyancy belt is allows you to concentrate on running in the water, just as you would run on land. Water running is excellent training for improving your cardiovascular endurance due to the water’s resistance. Deepwater running is often used by those recovering from an injury.

• If you are seeing a doctor for an injury, they may recommend deep water running as a rehabilitation activity. 

Many find this a fantastic total-body challenge for my entire body; energy is needed to maintain your head above the water and staying vertical!

Try modifying your run by adding sprints or moving your arms differently. No matter your fitness level, deepwater running is a super option for health conditions such as arthritis if you are comfortable in the water.

Diving

Diving is a stunning sport that combines athleticism and grace into intricate and explosive movements. Diving needs a robust and balanced body, capable of complete ranges of motion along with precise muscular control, total body conditioning, explosive power, and mental toughness.

• While one dive ends quickly, it takes years of concentrated training, hard work, and perseverance to nail a splash-less dive.

Even as a beginner, diving is a perfect way to challenge your entire body, especially your core muscles.

Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding is more popular than ever because it’s an athletic activity that can be done at a zen pace or at wave-making and intense speed.

As you paddleboard, your core muscles will work incredibly hard. The opportunity to explore the water, going where most boats cannot go, adds a special element to this sport. The paddling action is a tremendous challenge for your shoulders, back, and chest.  

Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is a pricey sport if you want to buy all your own equipment. However, if someone offers you the chance, give wakeboarding a try!

• Wakeboarding is another water-based sport that is a total body workout and will develop your core and upper body.
• Wakeboarding can be done simply, and it is an excellent bit of fun and a solid workout, even as a novice.
• There is no need to take on the flips, jumps, and other acrobatics unless you are ready and willing.

Just like other high-speed water sports, wakeboarding does run an elevated risk of injury.

• Take a lesson, listen carefully to your boat host’s guidance, and be sure to wear a lifejacket, even if you can swim. 

Even if you do not take part in one of these sports, getting into the water during the summer is enormous fun and a great way to challenge your fitness in innovative and rewarding ways.  Dive in; the water’s fine!