Seven Ways to Burn Calories in the Pool

Whether you’re looking for a way to fit more exercise into your schedule, lose weight, or simply focus more on wellness, you have an amazing resource right in your backyard! 

Here are seven ways to get a great workout in your swimming pool:

1. Swim Laps

Swimming burns calories and helps improve your cardiovascular fitness. What’s more, swimming is low-impact and gentle on your joints, which means it’s perfect for people of all ages and all fitness levels. If you’re new to swimming, start slowly. Aim for around 15 minutes per day and build from there. 
 

2. Do pool yoga

Yoga poses (or “asanas”) emphasize breathing, balance, and strength – and taking your practice to the pool can be a game-changer for new and experienced yogis. You’ll feel extra-supported during challenging balance poses like Warrior III and Half Moon. At the same time, you might find that the gentle movement of the water adds a new dimension to stability-focused poses like Mountain, Pyramid, and Warrior I. 

3. Go aquabiking

Can’t decide between going for a bike ride and taking a dip in the pool? Why not do both? Aquabikes are stationary bicycles designed for use in swimming pools, and they truly give you the best of both worlds: A gentle, low-impact workout that burns calories and helps you tone your muscles. If you’re new to this hybrid water exercise, check out AquaNess pool bikes. The brand offers five different models with a variety of features. 

4. Try a pool treadmill

Running is a great way to improve your cardio fitness and burn calories – but it’s not exactly easy on your knees. With a specially-designed pool treadmill, you can get all of the cardio benefits of a run or a brisk walk -- without putting extra stress on your joints. Our recommendation? The AquaNess T1 pool treadmill is durable and provides a great workout for beginners and seasoned athletes alike -- plus, it comes in a wide range of colors to match your outdoor décor! 

5. Try water aerobics

Condition your core, build strength, and boost your cardio fitness with aerobic exercises like lunges, jogging in place, leg lifts, flutter/bicycle kicks, and more. This low-impact form of exercise is perfect for beginners or for people recovering from injuries.  

6. Consider a swim spa

If you want the aerobic benefits of swimming laps, but you don’t have the space for a swimming pool, a swim spa might be exactly what you need. These innovative spa/pool hybrids feature a long, narrow design and use a system of jets, propellers, or even paddlewheels to create a current that mimics the resistance you’d get from swimming in a larger body of water such as a river. Some options, such as the Garden Leisure Swim Spa, combine the workout of a full-sized pool with additional hot tub features such as therapeutic massage jets.  

7. Add a counter current swimming system

Think your swimming pool is too small to swim laps? Think again. An easy-to-install counter current swimming system uses powerful jets to create a strong current and turn any pool – of any size -- into a lap pool. What’s more, these systems are adjustable, which means you can adjust the speed and resistance to make your workout more challenging. Don’t feel like working out? Dial back the speed and simply enjoy the gentle massage created by the current.