If you have been exercising on land but have now added the water experience to your regimen, you have discovered an environment where unique challenges and different equipment come into play.  Like most newcomers, you probably have some questions that you would like answered.  Maybe this will help.

WHY ARE WE WEARING WEBBED GLOVES?     

The primary use of the Aqua glove is for balance and stability, which is a safety feature. In any fitness environment, safety for the participants should be the number-one priority. On land, the air around participants in the gym is unlikely to knock anyone over; whereas, in the pool, water surrounds the participants with buoyancy and resistance, both of which have the ability to sweep them off their feet - usually when they least expect it. Therefore, learning to balance and stabilize is the first basic skill taught in an aqua fitness class. Adding the extra surface area of a mitt helps to maximize vertical balance in water for good postural training.  Teaching the correct sculling techniques with the glove allows for stabilization of body alignment, whether at rest or in motion.  While traveling through water in any direction resistance is increased and inertia created, the participant can use the glove to assist such travel and maintain efficient movement.  For strength training, the glove can be used to train specific muscle groups in the upper body by alternately "webbing" towards the target muscles and "slicing" to rest on the return.  In lower body target training, the gloves are once again used for balance to allow the movements to be effected through good posture.

WHY ARE WE WEARING SHOES? 

Functional Fitness are two words heard a lot these days. The emphasis in an aqua fitness class is to help some participants (especially as they age) remain sufficiently fit and efficient to enjoy their day to day activities, hopefully, free from injury.  For others, it is for training their bodies for sports specific goals.  Because we spend most of our time on land in a vertical position, posture and good body alignment are the cornerstones of such a regimen.  Shoes provide the wearer with more stability and traction for an upright stance when moving through water, as well as further reducing impact when jumping in shallow water.  They protect the feel from abbrasions and create additional resistance in deep or shallow water which will increase strength on land.

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE AQUATIC GLOVES AND SHOES?

H2O Wear: Sells gloves, shoes, durable aquatic wear as well as other aquatic equipment.

www.h2owear.com or 1-800-321-7848

Hydro-Fit: Sells gloves, shoes, and other aquatic equipment.

www.hydrofit.com or 1-800-346-7295

Avia: Sells aquatic shoe

www.aviadirect.com/aqua.html or 1-888-855-2842