Aqua aerobics: The new fitness trend

With increasing interest in health and fitness to counter the effects of a modern stress-filled lifestyle, various fusion and experimental fitness methods like aqua aerobics, with its "therapeutic" effects, have become a "growing trend", say experts.

Mumbai-based fitness trainer Deepali Jain, considered as being among the first to introduce the concept of aqua aerobics in India, says that the concept, which includes exercises like cardio, pilates and kickboxing, is a useful training method for obese people or the ones suffering from arthritis.

Explaining the idea behind aqua aerobics, Jain said: "You weigh only 10 percent of your body weight in water. So when a person who weighs 100 kg, or who has arthritis in the joints, or cannot do any exercises on the land due to gravitational pull, enters the water, the load is lifted off the joints and he is able to exercise without pain.

"The moment you stop, you stop rusting. Elderly people face problems with walking, getting up, sitting. They are scared to get knee replacement. Doctors send their patients with prescriptions and I work on that regime," she said. Diabetics too have something to gain out of this training method.

"It's excellent for diabetics because there are specific exercises to regulate insulin in your body. It is excellent for heart patients, the sugar level comes down to normal, and it is also an anti-depressant. It's therapeutic," said Jain. The exercise session is also made interesting with use of exclusive water-specific equipment.

"Inside water there are weight-bearing exercises. Dumb-bells specifically made for aqua. Bar-bells, ankle bells...we have specially made kick-boxing gloves too." The trend of aqua aerobics with all its health benefits may be rising in India, but Brazilian fitness trainer Cristiana Pipoli, who is currently living in Mumbai and training at Jaypee Vasant Continental, Vasant Vihar, says her classes consist of 80 percent foreigners and only 20 per cent Indians.

"Aqua aerobics arrived 25 years ago, but it became popular in India only five to six years ago. In India, the swimming pool is outside and people don't feel comfortable in swimming suits," Pipoli said. She however added that for the last two years, there has been an increased interest in aqua aerobics among Indians -- whether they're 18 or 80!

"I started getting more Indians in the last two years. Once they come, they are hooked. It's a different concept for them," she said, adding that "in general, India is waking up for exercise for the last two years".

And how could the trend be encouraged in the country?

"Somebody needs to open an indoor swimming pool. It's just a culture thing. Then I know Indians would love it and would come more often," she said. What makes aqua aerobics truly interesting is its diversity.

"It is not just plain aerobics; one can incorporate several other techniques such as resistance training, Zumba, running, kickboxing, spinning and many other. It is extremely effective in increasing the range of motion as well," said Neeraj Mehta, international fitness expert and nutritionist, GFFI (Growth for Fitness Instructors) Fitness Academy.