10 Swimming Pool Exercises for Seniors
Swimming Pool Exercises for Seniors
You might be wondering, can swimming pool exercises for seniors even be fun? You’ve made the retirement move to Florida to enjoy the warm weather, and you are ready to see what all the fuss is about. If you are looking for a way to continue to stay active during retirement, you may have heard that swimming pool activities are where the real fitness pros hang out in their golden years. Well, whoever told you that wasn’t wrong. Water activities are a great way to stay in shape while limiting the amount of stress on your body. We’re here to tell you about 10 of the best swimming pool exercises for seniors that will keep you mobile and energized!
- Walking or jogging: The first pool exercises for seniors is perhaps the easiest. You may already walk for exercise but doing this in the water will increase resistance, making it a bit more challenging. Start by walking from one wall of the shallow end to the other, keeping track of your “laps” and then you can work towards increasing your speed whenever you are comfortable.
- Calf raises: This move can help strengthen and stretch your calf and doing it in the water will add resistance while minimizing joint pain. Start off with feet flat on the pool floor. Slowly rise onto your tiptoes, hold for a second or two, then slowly lower down. Hold onto the edge of the pool for added stability.
- Chest fly: For this exercise, you will crouch down low enough into the water that your shoulders are underwater. Make sure your feet are staggered so that you’ll have some extra balance. Hold your arms out straight from your sides, then bring your palms together in front. Turn your palms out when you open your arms up again, then repeat as many times as you want!
- Marching in place: This one is fun. You will want to be deep enough in the water that only your neck up is clear of the water. Standing up straight, you will march in place, moving your opposite arm and leg. You’ll want to keep them close to your body with your hands in fists. Marching requires a little more focus and control than simply walking.
- Arm raises: Just like with the chest fly, you need to be down low in the water. For this exercise, you’ll take a balanced stance with feet hip-width apart. Start with your arms down by your sides, slowly lift up with arms straight until they are just below the surface, then slowly push them back down.
- Wall push-ups: Facing the edge of the pool, grip the edge of the pool with hands shoulder-width apart. Lean into the wall, then push back up. Make sure to keep your feet firmly on the bottom of the pool.
- Leg lifts: With one hand on the edge of the pool, swing your leg up and out to the side as high as you can and then lower back down slowly. Repeat on the other side.
- Flutter kicks: Grip the edge of the pool with both hands, then let your legs drift up. Kick your feet up and down, keeping your movements small and controlled and your body as straight as possible.
- Leg swings: Just light with the leg lifts, grip the edge of the pool with one hand. Swing your leg up in front of you, then to the back. Repeat on the other side.
- Swimming: This one is a bit of a no-brainer, but actually swimming is a great way for you to stay healthy and fit in your golden years.
There are plenty more exercises you can try, but these are some of the most beneficial for your health. We hope this article has helped, and happy swimming! If you have suggestions of your own, share them with your friends. If you need help keeping your pool safe when your grandkids visit, give us a call about our industry leading pool safety fences. They are quick to set up and take down, and can help give you another layer of protection when you have visitors.
