Ajock! Question about water exercise....

naughtoj

naughtoj

Cathlete
Hey Annette!

Well, of course I know YOU are the expert on water exercise so I wanted to ask you. I am interested in delving into some water fitness activities. My pool water doesn't even clear my head, my pool depth at its deepest is only 5'0-ish. I see all kinds of weird stuff in the stores for H2O exercise, like belts and webbed gloves. Can you tell me what gear you feel is really worth it, if any? Also, am I at a loss without having a "deep end" or are there things I can do that are just as effective without incorporating pool depth? Since I know zilch about this sort of thing, it would be awesome if you could elaborate and/or refer me to some good websites or books. Actually, I am just learning how to officially swim. I've always doggie paddled. My pool also doesn't have too much length, so take that into account as well.


I would love to hear your suggestions or any from any one else that may/is taking on water exercise. And don't say fly to Minnesota for a class.......even though I would LOVE to. :)


TIA!
Janice
 
Hi, Janice! Sorry this is so late - I don't have access to a computer outside the office and I had a nice, loooooooonnnnnngggg weekend. BUT - I digress . . .

The water gear that I swear by is as follows:

Speedo resistance mitts for the hands; these are made of durable lycra and neoprene, and zip up the sides of the hands. These add surface area AND cloth drag resistance at the end of the arm lever, which adds a ton of workload to all upper body exercises. These are also flexible enough so that you can comfortably fist, cup or palm the hands.

The original Aqua Jogger; this is a float belt that pretty much encompasses the entire trunk, and keeps your head above water as you perform aqua running, zero-impact aqua "skiing", vertical flutter-kicking work and other stuff with the legs while at the same time you can perform upper body exercises as well. The depth of your pool may be just enough where, if you have this aqua jogger and you're short enough, you can get away with it and do some good zero-impact work.

Hand buoys (also referred to as "water weights"); these look like styrofoam dumbbells with a padded grip. These come in varying degrees of size and resistance, and are made by several companies including Hydrofit (www.hydrofit.com), and the Keifer Company (or KIEfer Company, I forget how it's spelled - it's also online). These are excellent multi-purposes tools that can be used as floats in lieu of a kickboard for flutter-kick drills as well as for supine abdominal work, AND for upper body resistance work as well (some instructors incorporate these into their cardio classes, although I do not).

Also, if you're planning on doing a lot of impact-oriented shallow-water stuff, you'll want Ryka aqua athletic shoes. Just go to the Ryka website (www.ryka.com), and key in whatever you need to to get to the aqua aerobics shoes.

What I've listed above are MY must-haves; in fact, whenever I go out of town I always bring these four pieces of equipment with me and grab some pool workouts wherever I'm staying. Makes a difference.

As you noted, there's a ton of stuff out there. The Keifer Company (or however it's spelled), Fitness Wholesale (www.fwonline), and the Aquatic Exercise Association (www.aeawave.com or .org, I forget which) also have a lot of videos for aquatic work that you may find helpful.

Hope this helps -

A-Jock
 
Hey Janice...your not ditching the P90X for some little weasely water workout are you????}( }( }( }(

Briee :)o :eek: :eek: I can say that because AJ's in Minnesota and I'm not :7 :7 :7 )
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

The leanness of the weasel v. the buff bulk of the squirrel. The eternal aesthetic debate. Buckingham, I'm proud of you for sticking up for a species with which you and "your kind" have traditionally been in meaningful and permanent combat.

A-Jock
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

I won't even try to get in on that brand of humor! LOL!


No, Briee, I am still planning on "bringing it". I just am enjoying my pool right now in 105 degree temps. Less impact never hurt anyone.

Ajock..thank you for your suggestions. These are sortof the things I was thinking of getting. Next paycheck. Gracias for imparting your knowlege!!

Janice
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

Wow 105 degrees!! I just had this awesome thought....hang a bar a little distance above the water and do pullups from the pool. Your body would be somewhat supported depending on how high you had it from the water. What a great way to acclimate your bod to pullups in hot weather......now I want a pool....we do have a pond, but it's definitely no 105 degrees here in Wisconsin.


Briee
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

Weasels are not rodents, they EAT rodents. I've had it with all this Rodent Chauvinism! }(
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

Now, now, Mogambo, if one doesn't have something nice to say about rodents lets hold ones tongue. After all...Cathe has quite the large rodent fan club in the northern part of the country, including one little fellow who is a weasel/squirrel cross-over (he used to be a cross dresser, but recently underwent the mammal to rodent surgical procedure thereby enabling him to be considered amongst the rodent family, although he cannot participate in the upcoming Olympics - I think - but that could change) :p :p :p

Briee (oh Rocky where are you when we need you)
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

Rocky is most definitely NOT part weasel. He is a 100% purebred squirrel with ancestors dating back to the Mayflower. He is proud of those foresquirrels who struggled in England for freedom of squirreligion from oppressive weasels who, in addition to persecuting them for practicing their squirreligion, continuously tried to eat them.
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

I have a feeling I will be joining the weasel uprising I've heard about starting in Wisconsin and spreading across America. The other mammals, especially those who are on the Ratkins Diet, think a little good old American terror is just what those squirrels need.
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

BUCKINGHAM - DON'T LISTEN TO 'EM!

This constant flaming of ancient tensions between the squirrel and the weasel does nothing to promote peace among the four-pawed! I've heard of that crackpot weasel organization too - there's a compound in the dumpster of Madison's only alcohol-free child-care facility. They're weird, folks. Very weird.

Buckingham, again, is to be commended for sticking up for his old enemy. I've even heard - shhhh - that Bucky is in favor of squirrel - weasel miscegenation. Maybe the Massachusetts Supreme Court should weigh in on that one too . . .

A-Jock
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

Okay Janice....this thread has officially been HIJACKED.


My apologies :7 :7 :7 ....and I still like the swimming pool pull up idea.



Briee (Buckingham, of course adores your praise, but I cannot share this liberal bent of his. He has been raised to love all four footed creatures, but lately has been frequenting highly questionable establishments. And Rocky, that little high and mighty rat, was spotted recently by Buck (in his waywardism) at the mazomanie beach and he wasn't there for canoe racing I might add, some family man you are, you snot - Fiona is far better off without you x( x( x( ) )
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

I am honored to have my post the site of some great rodentia joking, so no prob..:) I wish I was actually funny, I could jump in. You guys are great!!:)

Janice
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

Briee and Buckingham -

I'll pass your sentiments on to Fiona. She's in custody right now on an indecent conduct charge: she was arrested giving a tail job to an elderly squirrel on top of an ashtray right here at the Government Center. She's a pretty brazen little thing. Got paid in acorns too.

A-Jock

(btw, janice - what was the question again?)
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

We are the squirrels....
We are the weasels.. .
We are the ones, holding up our paws, for you and meeeee....
(To the tune of "We are the world.")

I hope that gets stuck in your head all day.

Just because that litter-a-month sex pot Fiona is a friend of yours and so many of you think it's ok to indulge in internet acornography in the presence of minors, doesn't mean I am dissuaded from standing up for the rights of carnivorous mammals in America. Without carnivorous mammals, your precious rodents would destroy the forests, the grasslands, the swamps, and probably even the parking lots of our great land. No bird feeder in America would be safe.

And I'm not dumb enough to fall for the endangered specious arguments put forth by those imported weasels in Madison. On the supply side, I'm in support of Planned Rodenthood, so every rodent will be needed. But given the situation as it is, I also support uniting all the rodent-eating mammals: Weasels, martens, wolverines, mink, otters! And let's not forget the foxes, bobcats, jaguarundis, coyotes and raccoons. I do want to acknowledge the efforts of the non-mammalian carnivores who do so much for us, the snakes, owls and hawks, working night and day to keep the rodents under control until they learn to control themselves. Let's hope that day will come so we can all live in peace.

Please try to see the big picture, people.
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

Rocky and I apologize if our post sounded classist. By all means, Rocky is an equal-opportunity rodent and believes in freedom of expression and religion for all species, rodents and otherwise.

He is, nevertheless, proud that his ancestors had the courage to leave an oppressive weasel government which tried to deny squirrels basic rights and which also tried to eat them. He admires Buckingham for taking the moral high ground but admittedly has a hard time being sympathetic to his long-time oppressors and predators. He also doesn't trust 'em as far as he can jump to another tree.

As for his appearance at Mazomanie Beach, he was trying to rescue his old friend, Buckingham, who had put himself in mortal danger by unwittingly associating with terrorist weasels who are members of the extremist weasel group "Ratkins" (which Mogambo mentioned in her post). Ratkins is currently plotting to destroy the Northern Woodland Squirrel Alliance (NWSA), a group whose mission is to overcome worldwide oppression of squirrels and to promote good relations among rodentia. As A-Jock knows, "Squirrel Fitness" (SF) is really just a way to get out encoded information to NWSA members. Ratkins is aware of this but has yet to break the code. That's what they want from Buckingham. Rocky informed Buckingham of this, but Buckingham appears to have been brainwashed by Ratkins and wanted no part of it. We fear for Buckingham's life (as well as for the future of SF).

Rocky was saddened to hear about Fiona's latest bout with the law. She has really sunk to new lows by giving public "tail-jobs," all for a few lousy acorns! What she does in the privacy of her own tree is one thing...
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

"All rodents are equal. But some rodents are more equal than others."

(George Squirrelwell, "Rabbit Hutch")

A-Jock
 
RE: Edit by Buckingham

Ah, "Rabbit Hutch," that classic studied in 9th grade lit... It should be in every rodent's library along with "Profiles in Squirrelage."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top