Water yoga is a brand-new trend in Canada, and it’s a great way for beginners to get into the art of yoga! If you’ve ever been interested in trying yoga but were worried about the pressure and weight on your joints, aqua yoga may be perfect for you!
Why? Well, water yoga boasts quite a few advantages compared to its land-based counterpart. The buoyancy of the water allows you to take the pressure off of your joints, which can reduce pain and discomfort, and help beginners perform yoga poses more effectively. Because you don’t have to fight gravity, it’s much easier to perform advanced yoga poses, and enjoy the many benefits that yoga has to offer!
THE BENEFITS OF WATER YOGA
There are a huge number of benefits to water yoga – so we’ll just go over the most important ones now.
Increased flexibility
Aquatic yoga is one of the very best ways to increase flexibility. Hundreds of thousands of people around the globe suffer from inflexible muscles, which can lead to pain and muscular imbalance.
Better strength & muscle tone
Water yoga is a low-impact, full-body exercise, making it a fantastic way to build up strength.
Pain relief
Aqua yoga allows you to relieve pressure from your major joints, tendons, and ligaments, which makes it appropriate for people of all ages, and all levels of physical ability. And because water-based yoga can be performed in pools of any size, you can even do it in your own backyard if you shop with Jacuzzi Hot Tubs of Ontario!
THREE POSES TO GET YOU STARTED!
Interested in doing yoga in the comfort of your hot tub or swim spa? Here are three simple poses to get you started.
High tide pose
Begin by holding the side of your hot tub, swim spa, or pool with one hand. Stand with a straight spine, and bend your outer leg, bringing your knee towards your chest. Grab your big toe or the outer edge of your foot. Straighten your leg as much as possible while maintaining a straight upper back. While keeping your hips in a forward position, move your leg to the side. Let go of the wall, and feel the water as it helps you maintain your balance. Hold for 10-15 seconds, and repeat with the other side. This is an excellent pose for stretching your legs and hamstrings.
Upward facing dog pose
Take one or two pool noodles, and place both of your hands on them. Stand with a straight spine, and roll your shoulders away from your ears. Begin pushing the noodles away. Arch your back and stand on your tip-toes, using your core to stay in place while you hold the noodles. This pose helps build your core and balance and is a great way to stretch out the muscles of your lower back.
Half boat pose
Sit comfortably in one of the seats of your hot tub. Move to the edge of your seat, and firmly grip the edges. Straighten your back and lift your legs up, keeping them underwater and shins parallel with the surface of the water. Slowly, reach your arms out in front of you along your legs, and breathe into the stretch!
HELPFUL TIPS & TRICKS FOR A SUCCESS WATER YOGA SESSION!
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you as you begin practicing underwater yoga!
Wear what you’re comfortable in
When practicing underwater yoga, you can wear a swimsuit, gym shorts – anything you feel comfortable in, and that makes you feel good about your body.
Start slow
Begin with the three exercises we listed above, and then move onto more advanced poses once you have a better understanding of your body.
Don’t be afraid to fail
Unlike traditional yoga, water yoga allows you to experiment with difficult poses with little fear of injury – the water provides plenty of support. So, don’t be afraid to try advanced poses! You should also talk with your doctor first, and make sure your body is ready for the rigours of water-based yoga.
In addition, you should be comfortable in the water, and a confident swimmer – and don’t forget to bring a water bottle! You don’t want to get dehydrated.
Need A Pool for Water Yoga? Shop with Jacuzzi Hot Tubs of Ontario!
At Jacuzzi Hot Tubs of Ontario, we offer a wide variety of all season pools and Jacuzzi® Hot Tubs that are perfect for water yoga! If you’re interested in enjoying the benefits of aqua yoga from the comfort of your own home, come in today! Our reasonable costs, expertise, and dedication to customer service make us the #1 choice for Jacuzzi® hot tubs and AquaFit swim spas in Hamilton, Kitchener, Waterloo, and throughout the GTA.
