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4 Easy Exercises to Try in the Pool
What’s better than cooling off in the pool this summer? Getting a workout out in while you are taking a dip. These simple moves in the pool can burn calories and tone your whole body. Courtesy of GH.
Warm Up
Don’t let scorching temps wreck your workouts: Grab a foam swim noodle and head to the shallow end of the pool. Start by jogging laps across the pool for five minutes, using your hands as paddles to help keep your balance and propel yourself forward. Take a quick break and then begin the following water routine. Go straight from one move into the next and rest for a minute after completing each circuit. The goal is to finish three circuits in a row.
1. Split Leaps
What this works: Rear and thighs
In waist-deep water, sink into a lunge with right foot forward, left foot back. Wrap swim noodle around your back and under your arms. Pressing off the pool floor, jump up as you switch legs; be sure to tighten abdominal muscles while jumping. Land with left foot in front, right foot behind, and sink back into a lunge. Jump again, returning legs to starting position. That’s one repetition; do 10. For more of a challenge, lose the noodle and push down with hands instead as you jump up.
2. Side Kicks
What this works: Side abdominals, inner and outer thighs
Stand with feet together. Balance on right foot as you raise left leg forward, knee bent; then kick out to the side with knee facing forward. During the kick, keep hands by right hip to help maintain balance. Lower left foot to the pool floor and balance on it as you repeat the kick with right leg. Do 10 kicks on each side.
3. Water Wings
What this works: Chest and back
Standing with feet at least shoulder-width apart, bend knees and straighten arms out in front of you just below water’s surface. Rotate arms so palms face away from each other, and then push arms wide, to the sides and behind you, sending chest forward. Now turn hands so palms face forward and bring arms back together in front of you; take care not to round your back. That’s one rep; do 10.
4. Super Scissor Kicks
What this works: Core, rear, and thighs
With your back to a pool wall, drape arms on the ledge. Raise legs so they extend straight ahead at a 90 degree angle to body. Keeping legs straight, kick them up and down four times, then from side to side (let feet cross) four times: That’s one rep; do 10.