h e a l t h • l i f e • w e l l – b e i n g
13
MYTH 5:
Water workouts are only for
elderly people, or people
with injuries
Truth:
Swimming, water-run-
ning, or core exercises in the
water are a challenge even
for the fittest of land lovers.
Being in the water adds re-
sistance to your exercise and
swimming has well estab-
lished cardiovascular benefits.
Talk about a strengthening
program! Strokes such as
the breaststroke work nearly
every muscle of the body!
While your arms pull you for-
ward, your legs kick to push
you and all the while your
core is working to keep you
afloat and in-line!
If swimming is not your
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strong suit, try a water
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running program.
Typically these programs are
done with a floater belt or an
elastic cord tethering you to
the wall to add resistance.
The majority of the time, your
head is above water or you
can choose a depth where
your feet stay on the ground
if you are not comfortable
being in deep water. Check
your local community centre
for these higher intensity
water programs or for a
lane-swimming drop-in
schedule which typically
costs only $3-$5 per session.