It might be said that the main benefit of water is for hydration – keeping our bodies ticking over; supplying our tiniest cells to our brain and blood. However, water can be used to improve health in a very different way! Once you have enough of it (usually confined to a pool like structure or natural basin), exercising in water has a huge benefit for our bodies and on our health!

Low impact
Aquatic-based activities tend to have reduced impact on the body, unless you’re diving off the high board of course. Exercise in water helps reduce pressure on joints and bones, ideal for those who may suffer with load-aggravating conditions such as arthritis or joint degeneration. High impact exercise, however, does have its place – impact and load helps one develop bones and joints, improving their strength and stability.

Whole body training
Water-based activity is often a whole body workout; swimming and aqua aerobics both condition your upper body, lower body and core! This has very positive effects on your ability to burn calories and improve physical and mental health. Working out in water adds variable resistance, allowing improved strengthening of muscles without stepping foot in the gym.

Cooling exercise
Pool or water-based activities keep you cool when exercising, which is especially helpful if you often overheat when working out. They even almost stop you sweating… although that maybe down to the fact that you don’t see it! Outdoor-based swimming can be good for this; the water often feels great even when the temperature outside is cooler. Outdoor pools are generally heated up to 26°C. Alongside keeping cooler, swimming outside gives the extra benefit of clean, open air and added vitamin D from the sun light, which does come even through clouds!

Cross training
Although swimming is the most common aquatic activity, it isn’t the only one you can do in pools or otherwise. Aqua aerobics is a great activity which promotes progressive strengthening of joints in a low impact scenario. Aqua running is a brilliant way of improving fitness around injury when impact exercise is too much. Water polo in Gloucestershire is on the rise, and it is a great activity for those wanting a new challenge. Paddle boarding and kayaking among other activities can be performed in local lakes and are an efficient and fun way of improving fitness that can be done solo or in groups.

Where to take part in Gloucestershire?
Although Gloucestershire isn’t coastal we still have plenty of water. Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham has been providing the people of Gloucester-shire and beyond an open-air swimming pool to exercise in since the early 1930s – a 50m main pool and accompanying children’s pool (all heated), along with a variety of aquatic-based activities from April onwards.

If you prefer the more natural environment, South Cerney lakes provide a range of swimming and aquatic-based activities throughout the spring and summer, once the temperature has increased! Indoor pools are also very accessible throughout the county, from family fun pools to lane-based options!