AQUA YOGA: FLOATING FITNESS

Water is one of the five elements which come together to form our bodies and it is more than justified that we unite with it as much as we can. A new form of yoga which is called Aqua Yoga, Hydro yoga or Water Yoga is becoming popular across the globe. But why, do yoga in water when it is designed to be done on solid ground? This question tops the F.A.Q list at any Water Yoga conference or classroom.

 

As unconventional as it sounds it is slowly making serious inroads into the mainstream fitness industry because of a wide range of health benefits it brings to its practitioners. Just imagine practicing yoga in a pool of water. What do you think the differences will be? Firstly and most importantly it reduces the risk of conventional yoga related fatigue and injuries. By practicing yoga postures in water which serves as an environment acting as a perfect shock absorbers not allowing any extra pressure to trickle down to out joints and muscles. Secondly, it allows people suffering from osteoporosis and arthritis to reap the benefits of yoga without the risk of further degeneration. Water Yoga is becoming very popular among the elderly and the overweight sections of the society. By controlling the movements and postures in water these people can attain much needed strength and lose the stubborn fat respectively. Unlike yoga done on the mat and floor, Water Yoga is a boon for pregnant women, who can do it without any risk of harm to the baby and themselves. But one needs to take care that Water Yoga needs to be performed with certain precautions which are as follows:

1. Session length: an average water yoga lesion should last for about 45-55 minutes.
2. Water temperature: too hot or too cold water is not conducive for Water Yoga. Temperatures should vary between 82-86 degrees.
3. Water Type: the water in the yoga pool should be free from chlorine and at a later stage can be saturated with extra minerals and even oxygen to promote absorption of the same.
4. Non swimmers: Non swimmers can also do water yoga under specialized supervision and to begin with, in shallow pools
5. Weekly dose of original yoga: we suggest you to do conventional floor yoga at least once a week to continue understanding and reaping the true benefits of Water Yoga as well.

This Summer Head To The Swimming Pool For Yoga Class

Water Yoga: Beat the Heat While Staying Fit

Water Yoga a.k.a Aqua Yoga or Pool Yoga is yet another modern adaptation of the age old art of Yoga and a convenient way to beat the heat this summer without missing out on your fitness. Using the same poses as traditional yoga with minor modifications this type of yoga can be performed in any medium of water, be it a swimming pool, beach or lake taking things to a deeper level.

Aqua yoga is a great activity to take up after a high-intensity workout as a cool-down stretch or any time of the day on its own. Ideal water depth is chest-high, which provides the perfect amount of resistance yet allows you to crouch or bend a little as most poses require. Besides being just another type of yoga, performing yoga asanas (yoga poses) in water is recommended for people recovering from surgery or those with restricted movements as the water not only relaxes the muscles but also support your weight. Other than being a good restorative workout, water yoga allows you to work on getting deeper into a pose and holding it longer without fatigue.

Poses such as the Warrior poses, Tree pose, Triangle pose with the support of the pool wall and even back-bends against the wall are recommended for Pool yoga. Take the warrior pose for example- Place your feet leg-length apart, and lunge one leg forward. When your shoulder comes out of the water, slowly lift arms to the sky with the toes of your rear-positioned foot turned slightly inwards. Sinking your lower body into the water, lift the upper body (stretching out, at the ribs). Your arms should be straight. Squeeze the shoulder blades together and lift chest up and forward. Tuck your pelvis in and push your tailbone towards the pool bottom, keeping your feet aligned avoid moving your knee past your ankle. Ensure that your arms are beside your ears. Hold for 10 seconds to one minute, depending on your comfort level. Switch sides and hold for the same amount of time.

So this summer, if your sticky mat gets a little too sticky, take your practice into the pool and you’ll be chanting H2Om instead of just Om!

*Photo credits: photos by pocketmonsterd, randomtruth, Homies In Heaven on flickr.