Now that we are officially into summer, ( I love the long summer days) let me bring to mind one very effective venue for exercise. The pool. I know some of you love the water and many of you have pools right in your back yards. While the pool is a great place to relax and play like a kid, it is also a great place to exercise when you take it seriously. Water exercise is no longer thought of as just for pregnant women or those who can't do other forms of exercise. It will stand on it's own as a viable method. Keep in mind that the buoyancy of the water reduces the stress to the bones and joints by 90% so exercise in the pool is going to "feel" differently. If you have aches and pains, step into the pool.
There are some great tools for water exercise. My favorite is the noodle which costs a couple of bucks at the local store. You can even do planks in the pool with a noodle. Hand bars are great. Air balls that you find for a few dollars offer resistance. If you have the opportunity to take a class, by all means, GO! Water's density is about 800 times that of air so you are going to burn some serious calories. If you find a class with a friend in attendance, go to the far side of the pool. Get away from her/him. For some reason the water opens up opportunities to talk and the workout goes right down the drain! With the appropriate intensity of exercise, the water can do a body good!
