If you have a fibreglass pool at home, why not try out aqua yoga? A newer form of yoga that has begun to gain popularity, particularly in places with warmer climates, is aqua yoga. Even seniors and pregnant women are getting in on the fun. People with mobility impairments can practice aqua yoga as well.

What Is Aqua Yoga?

Aqua yoga is also known as water yoga. It involves practising yoga while you’re in the water. It’s more common for people to practice aqua yoga in either indoor or outdoor swimming pools. Aqua yoga can also be practised in a hot tub, in the lake, or even in the ocean.

When you do aqua yoga, you’ll be participating in various aspects of yoga practices. These included asanas, which are the poses you do in yoga. You’ll also need to do breathwork, also known as pranayama, and finally, meditation is involved as well.

Some of the poses you do in aqua yoga could be modified for the water. You can also make use of props, accessories and aqua yoga equipment to do your exercises. Of course, aqua yoga can be done without equipment as well.

What Should You Wear?

When doing aqua yoga, most people tend to wear their bathing suit, shorts, a wetsuit, sports bra, and whatever else they are comfortable wearing.

Note though that if you should be doing aqua yoga outside, then you need to wear waterproof sunscreen. Consider wearing a hat or using sunglasses as well, especially should the sun be high up when you practice.

What Are The Benefits Of Aqua Yoga?

There are various benefits associated with aqua yoga, many of which overlap with practising yoga in general. However, practising yoga in water does confer some additional benefits. For many people, water-based yoga is safer than traditional yoga.

People who have osteoarthritis of the knees, hips, ankles, spine or feet, can benefit from exercising in the water. When you practice aqua yoga, the water’s buoyancy reduces the force and weight of the body, that’s going through your joints. Even activities that are traditionally high impact, such as running, become low impact, when they are done in the water.

The buoyancy that the water has also reduces wear and tear when it comes to the joints. It also serves to offset a little of the body’s weight. If you’re a beginner who’s looking to improve your fitness, then aqua yoga could be good for you.

The benefits of aqua yoga include:

  • Flexibility can be improved
  • Balance can be increased
  • The water helps keep the body cool and prevents overheating
  • Pressure on the joints is reduced, as there is no stress, due to the buoyancy of the water
  • Increase strength due to dealing with greater resistance from the water
  • Improved digestion
  • De-stress both the body and the mind
  • Enjoy a great cardiovascular workout
  • Improve your sleeping patterns

Aqua Yoga Exercises You Can Practice Today

So what are some easy asanas that you can do in the water?

  1. Tadasana

Also known as the palm tree pose, to do this exercise, you’ll need to stand erect in your fibreglass pool with your legs slightly apart. Then, raise both hands on the sides while looking above. Then, interlock your fingers and turn your hand such that your palms are facing towards the sky.

Look ahead, and while taking deep breaths, stretch your hand out such that your elbows are no longer bending. At the same time, raise your heels such that your body weight is on your toes. Now, while breathing normally, walk. Then, bring your heels and arms down while also breathing out.

  1. Hasta

This is also known as the raised arm pose. This is an asana that helps in digestion as well as in toning the muscles in the abdomen. To do this exercise, first, stand erect, and then raise both your hands until they are above your head.

Now, take a deep breath and bend the upper half of your body as well as your head, backward. You should feel a stretch in these areas. Finally, breathe out while returning to your starting position.

  1. Veer Bhadrasana

This is also known as the Warrior Pose-II. This is an asana that can help improve body balance and also relax the muscles in the shoulders. To do this exercise, you’ll need to have a distance between both of your legs. First, breathe in and then bend one leg from your knee.

Now, stretch your arms wide along your shoulder, keeping them parallel to the water. Stay in this position for a while. Then, breathe out as you are coming back to the centre. Then, change your legs. This exercise should be repeated for at least ten counts.

  1. Utkatasana

This is also known as the chair pose. When you do this exercise, you’ll need to stand in water that is up to your waist. Your feet should be kept slightly apart. First, bend your knees such that your body goes down in the water slightly. Your thighs should be kept parallel to the bottom of the pool.

Now, raise your hands such that they are over your head or in front. Now count to ten while you hold this pose. This is an asana that can help in strengthening arms, thigh muscles, as well as legs. This asana is also good for the knees.

  1. Ardha Chandra Chapasana

This is also known as the sugarcane pose. This is an asana that is especially beneficial for the thigh area, as well as the area around the hips.

To do this exercise, you’ll need to take a deep breath. Your weight should be on your front foot, such that you’ll be able to balance your body without any issues on that foot. Now, let your other leg float and then, using the hand of the same side, hold your leg. This way, you’ll be forming a half-moon pose.

Count to ten while you hold this pose, and then breathe out while you release your back leg. Then switch legs and repeat the exercise.

Conclusion

Aqua yoga is a great way to tone your body while also enjoying physical and mental health benefits. The buoyancy of the water plays a key role in making aqua yoga popular among all age groups. Practice the asanas in this guide in your Brisbane fibreglass pool, and enjoy the many benefits of aqua yoga.