item for water walking, but
they’ll assist you in pretty much
any water sport. You may want
to add a buoyancy belt for deep
water running; however, some
hard-core runners will even
tether themselves to the edge of
the pool. Deep water running is
perfect for those recovering from
injury as it reduces impact on
your body as much as 90%.
Aquasize classes are a great
way to combine fitness with
social time. For those who are a
bit nervous in the water, there
are shallow end classes; and for
the more confident, there are
deep water programs. Some
instructors use pool noodles
and paddle boards to add to the
variety of exercises.
If you are not very comfortable
with water, adult swimming
lessons might be just the thing.
It’s never too late to learn
the basics of water safety and
develop a feeling of confidence
in the water.
If you’re already a swimmer,
laps in the pool are one of
the best ways to get aerobic
exercise. Most pools will have
an area set aside for patrons
to swim laps or a designated
time to accommodate lappers.
A waterproof fitness watch can
help keep track of your swim
duration, distance, and pace.
However, if you’re really
ambitious, you may want to
join a triathlon training group
and get professional coaching
to improve your technique,
stamina, and endurance.
Swimming a triathlon is entirely
different from laps in the pool.
An experienced instructor can
teach skills for swimming in
large groups and in open water.
Don’t forget that an aquatic
fitness centre typically has a
hot tub and sauna. Nothing
feels better on an achy joint
than a warm-water massage,
and saunas have been shown
to ease pain, reduce stress
and improve cardiovascular
health. There have even been
studies that show that saunas
may help lower the risk of
developing dementia — so
those Scandinavians may be
onto something! ●
Ready to compete at a
higher level?
Each province and territory
has its version of the 55+
Games. The Alberta Senior
Games began in 1980 and
have evolved to become the
Alberta 55 Plus Summer
and Winter Games with
thirty categories from alpine
skiing to tennis. Swimming
categories include freestyle,
breaststroke, backstroke,
individual medley, and a
time-predicted race.
The Canada 55 Plus
Games have twenty
mandatory events and nine
optional events as well as
bonus and demonstration
categories. Participants must
meet the selection criteria
of the province they plan
to represent. Start training
now for the next Canada 55
Plus Games in Kamloops in
August of 2020.
There is more information
about the Alberta 55 Plus
games at alberta55plus.ca
and the Canada 55 Plus
games at canada55plus.ca
news&views SPRING 2019 | 45