Make a plan and START
Trying something new or setting new habits can be tough. We can often think of a reason to delay. I’ve learned two things that help me:
Make a plan. I use my pen + paper planner and schedule it. I pack the day before. There is a fabulous heated pool at my town’s aquatic center 5 minutes from my home. I even pack a robe and flip flops in my pool bag, and that’s what I’m coming home in. I've learned how to make it easy!
Don’t wait for perfection. Do it messy. Don’t have the ideal eqiupment yet that you’ve ordered? Don’t wait! Your pool probably has noodles and a kickboard. Start there! Begin wtih walking in the shallow end. Add resisted arm movements, change up speeds, and alternate walking patterns. This can be your warm-up or part of your routine. Use that noodle for hamstring and hip stretches. Learn how to use slower movements for gentle range of motion and stretches, allowing the buoyancy to assist in movements. Then play with faster speeds, using the water as resistance for strength training. In a squat position, push the kickboard back and forth at different angles; brace your abdominals so that this is not just upper body strength training but core stability training, as well. Just get started, using what you have!
So find a day/time that you want to start and try it! Don’t wait for the perfect time or the perfect equipment. It’s ok to start with a short session to see if you like it, and you probably already have a couple pieces of equipment that you can use. Here, we’re sharing tips to make aquatic exercise something you’ll enjoy! Coming soon: equipment suggestions and what they do!