Drown Your Troubles in the Pool
There is a certain primal, albeit womb-like feel we all encounter simply by stepping into a pool – especially a warm-water therapy exercise pool. There is a peace, a sense of coming home, of being able to start over and starting over is exactly what you have made the monumental decision to do.
You do the moves, your water yoga, aqua pilates, games and challenges with your aqua-bari instructor and the oxygen begins to flow. Your organs, skin, brain and nerves receive that beautiful rich red of an increased blood flow and viola – the murky mental curtain lifts! Sadness is dispelled, anxiety drops, pain is forgotten, excess weight starts to disappear AND all the while you’re having fun. In doing something very constructive for yourself, you feel good and after each session a sense of accomplishment puts that spring right back into your step. Maybe you never had that spring but now you know what it feels like.
We’ve all heard about a “runner’s high" where endorphins (the feel good, mood enhancing peptides) are released into the brain. Yes it’s actually been proven that you can exercise your way to happiness BUT how the pre and/or post bariatric surgery girl and guy do this safely is not by running and injuring joints or sweating out at the gym but rather simply by getting into the water for some guided movements. Don’t think though that bari-water exercise is for wimps. One former policeman that joined our class recently told me that though he was having a ball in the water workouts, he never realized how “heavy" water actually felt when doing certain moves. Another 20-something guy who initially poo-poohed bari-aqua exercise as something for “old ladies" found he had a hard time even keeping up. (I was throwing him a few tougher extra exercises – tee hee.) Though it’s not water aerobics, nor jarring to life & limb, it does get you moving, working, pushing, pulling and smiling. It’s all about water resistance – 12 times that of air. You add muscle, reduce fat, create strength, improve your balance, get a tighter tummy and firmer arms all the while achieving self-esteem and a rosier outlook on life. Yes, the emotions sure do benefit.
You’re now meeting some of your physical goals so easily. You’ve discovered you can do it without killing yourself in an expensive gym and with that realization you gain confidence. You are so smart, so proud of yourself for giving the water a try. That revelation is a mood lifter! Your time in the water, with others just like you, gives you a feeling of connectedness and is a distraction from your worries. The social interaction, that automatic pleasant “hello" and smile relaxes you today and gives you something to look forward tomorrow.
Two women in our bari-aqua class have told me from the third week of class they suddenly realized that underneath the tummy flesh that was beginning to lessen; they envisioned their 6-pack just waiting to emerge! You may now be laughing (we did too) but these are the happy thoughts and positive feelings that start to flow. Wouldn’t you say that alone is worth a jump into the pool? I sure would!
You continue with your classes, building bone density and helping yourself to be less likely to suffer from stress fractures or osteoporosis. Your immune system strengthens, which immediately reduces the incidence of disease and illness – everything from the simplest common cold to cancer. Even arthritis and gastrointestinal disorders are relieved. Keep your aqua-exercise going and that oxygen flowing, your skin brightens, your memory improves and you think more quickly. The cognitive benefits also decrease the chances of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Your improved weight loss can, and has in so many cases, eliminated your diabetes and the meds required. Now, that raises your mood!
Endorphins fly and pain dissipates, muscle builds, spines strengthen, nerves calm and tension, edginess and anger are no longer are a part of your life. Plain and simple – you just feel better. At the risk of sounding like a Ron Popeil kitchen gadget sale on television at 2:00 a.m., THERE’S MORE! Due to the fact that your energy is increased, anxiety and stress are reduced and an overall sense of well-being now permeates your consciousness – you sleep better. Your mind is calm in traffic, at work, at home. You’re calm, rested from a good night’s sleep, feeling good in your own skin. Your kids are reaping the benefit of your good example of stick-to-it-tiveness, your spouse sees you becoming more optimistic and comfortable with your body and well…ta da from there (wink wink).
The message I’m trying in so many word to relay to you is that aqua exercise actually affects the brain & nervous system in a positive way. The special environment of warm water is calming, soothing, peaceful and something you’ll relish with every entry into that therapy pool. Aqua bari-exercise relaxes you, stretches the tight muscles & tendons, relieves the tense neck & shoulders, loosens the grip of your day, gives you self-esteem and confidence which brings you a happier sense of yourself. You’re less stressed, anxious, nervous, irritable, edgy, unhappy and discouraged. You start feeling good about life and aboutYOU. It’s a psychological boost, a physical – chemical response and something we all can use in our ever so demanding lives.
So there you have it. Sound like a win – win? Surely your answer would be a resounding YES! So come on, jump in and let’s start drowning our troubles in the pool! You’ll have a big smile on your face before you know it and now you’ll know how it got there. Ever so smart you!
Well, it’s been an interesting “wild mouse ride" between your decision to have the surgery, having it, then adjusting to life after. As most of you quickly discovered, bariatric surgery, though a fantastic jump start toward a new healthy, slim you, is just a tool to begin your journey. If you read my first OH article (Nov/Dec 2010) you discovered an easy, joint friendly and fun way to get that previously dreaded exercise into your life and that “WATER WORKS!" You learned with specialized bariatric aqua exercise, your newly reducing body can achieve strength, toning and even an acceleration of your weight loss. Bravo – you got it! Okay, so now you are looking better with firmer arms, a more pared middle and terrific energy due to those bari-aqua classes, but what also comes with that water routine which is sculpting your newly emerging figure, is a more alert, less stressed, sharper and happier mental attitude! Just from moving around in the water? YES INDEED!
There is a certain primal, albeit womb-like feel we all encounter simply by stepping into a pool – especially a warm-water therapy exercise pool. There is a peace, a sense of coming home, of being able to start over and starting over is exactly what you have made the monumental decision to do.
You do the moves, your water yoga, aqua pilates, games and challenges with your aqua-bari instructor and the oxygen begins to flow. Your organs, skin, brain and nerves receive that beautiful rich red of an increased blood flow and viola – the murky mental curtain lifts! Sadness is dispelled, anxiety drops, pain is forgotten, excess weight starts to disappear AND all the while you’re having fun. In doing something very constructive for yourself, you feel good and after each session a sense of accomplishment puts that spring right back into your step. Maybe you never had that spring but now you know what it feels like.
We’ve all heard about a “runner’s high" where endorphins (the feel good, mood enhancing peptides) are released into the brain. Yes it’s actually been proven that you can exercise your way to happiness BUT how the pre and/or post bariatric surgery girl and guy do this safely is not by running and injuring joints or sweating out at the gym but rather simply by getting into the water for some guided movements. Don’t think though that bari-water exercise is for wimps. One former policeman that joined our class recently told me that though he was having a ball in the water workouts, he never realized how “heavy" water actually felt when doing certain moves. Another 20-something guy who initially poo-poohed bari-aqua exercise as something for “old ladies" found he had a hard time even keeping up. (I was throwing him a few tougher extra exercises – tee hee.) Though it’s not water aerobics, nor jarring to life & limb, it does get you moving, working, pushing, pulling and smiling. It’s all about water resistance – 12 times that of air. You add muscle, reduce fat, create strength, improve your balance, get a tighter tummy and firmer arms all the while achieving self-esteem and a rosier outlook on life. Yes, the emotions sure do benefit.
You’re now meeting some of your physical goals so easily. You’ve discovered you can do it without killing yourself in an expensive gym and with that realization you gain confidence. You are so smart, so proud of yourself for giving the water a try. That revelation is a mood lifter! Your time in the water, with others just like you, gives you a feeling of connectedness and is a distraction from your worries. The social interaction, that automatic pleasant “hello" and smile relaxes you today and gives you something to look forward tomorrow.
Two women in our bari-aqua class have told me from the third week of class they suddenly realized that underneath the tummy flesh that was beginning to lessen; they envisioned their 6-pack just waiting to emerge! You may now be laughing (we did too) but these are the happy thoughts and positive feelings that start to flow. Wouldn’t you say that alone is worth a jump into the pool? I sure would!
You continue with your classes, building bone density and helping yourself to be less likely to suffer from stress fractures or osteoporosis. Your immune system strengthens, which immediately reduces the incidence of disease and illness – everything from the simplest common cold to cancer. Even arthritis and gastrointestinal disorders are relieved. Keep your aqua-exercise going and that oxygen flowing, your skin brightens, your memory improves and you think more quickly. The cognitive benefits also decrease the chances of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Your improved weight loss can, and has in so many cases, eliminated your diabetes and the meds required. Now, that raises your mood!
Endorphins fly and pain dissipates, muscle builds, spines strengthen, nerves calm and tension, edginess and anger are no longer are a part of your life. Plain and simple – you just feel better. At the risk of sounding like a Ron Popeil kitchen gadget sale on television at 2:00 a.m., THERE’S MORE! Due to the fact that your energy is increased, anxiety and stress are reduced and an overall sense of well-being now permeates your consciousness – you sleep better. Your mind is calm in traffic, at work, at home. You’re calm, rested from a good night’s sleep, feeling good in your own skin. Your kids are reaping the benefit of your good example of stick-to-it-tiveness, your spouse sees you becoming more optimistic and comfortable with your body and well…ta da from there (wink wink).
The message I’m trying in so many word to relay to you is that aqua exercise actually affects the brain & nervous system in a positive way. The special environment of warm water is calming, soothing, peaceful and something you’ll relish with every entry into that therapy pool. Aqua bari-exercise relaxes you, stretches the tight muscles & tendons, relieves the tense neck & shoulders, loosens the grip of your day, gives you self-esteem and confidence which brings you a happier sense of yourself. You’re less stressed, anxious, nervous, irritable, edgy, unhappy and discouraged. You start feeling good about life and aboutYOU. It’s a psychological boost, a physical – chemical response and something we all can use in our ever so demanding lives.
So there you have it. Sound like a win – win? Surely your answer would be a resounding YES! So come on, jump in and let’s start drowning our troubles in the pool! You’ll have a big smile on your face before you know it and now you’ll know how it got there. Ever so smart you!
Tune in next time for “Food Fun – Yummy Diet Changes For The Exerciser?. Until then…see you at the pool!
Resa Hempfling has been an aqua exercise professional for over 20 years. She is a former Olympic swimmer, national backstroke champion and Pan Am games medallist. She has taught and coached swimming and non-swim exercise to ages 5 to 85 on both the east and west coasts. She is a certified aqua program instructor by the Arthritis Foundation of America as well as licensed in water safety and CPR. Within the past several years she has developed a revolutionary aqua exercise program specific to pre / post bariatric surgery patients which has brought her national notoriety. She can be contacted via e-mail at: [email protected]
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