Yoga is a subject that is familiar to everyone. It is a discipline that helps practitioners understand themselves, relieve stress, and help the body stay supple with gentle movements while achieving high results.
1. What is aquatic yoga?
Aqua yoga, also known as water yoga, is a unique form of traditional yoga that takes place in a watery setting. Thanks to the water’s support, the practitioner feels light when exercising, and the push from the water helps double the performance of skeletal muscles.
2. What effects does Aqua Yoga have?
Underwater yoga has a special feature: it does not need to focus on balancing movements like indoor yoga. Instead, you just need to focus on feeling the movement to perform it more correctly.
Reduce pressure on joints and muscles.
Water can support the body, helping to reduce pressure on joints and muscles. This is especially useful for people with bone and joint problems, the elderly, or those recovering from injury. The water environment helps reduce stress on joints, thereby reducing the risk of injury and pain.
Increase strength and flexibility.
Although water helps relieve pressure, it also creates resistance, requiring the body to work harder to perform the movements. This helps increase muscle strength and flexibility. Aquatic yoga exercises help the body become stronger and more flexible, thereby improving mobility and overall fitness.
Improves circulatory and respiratory systems
Aquatic yoga promotes blood circulation and improves respiratory function. The pressure of water on the body helps the blood circulate better, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Breathing while practicing underwater yoga also helps improve lung capacity and enhance respiratory capacity.
Reduce stress and anxiety.
The cool, peaceful water environment has a relaxing effect on the mind. Combined with gentle yoga exercises and deep breathing, underwater yoga effectively reduces stress and anxiety. Many studies have demonstrated that practicing water yoga improves mood and reduces stress and depression symptoms.
Enhances balance and coordination
Performing yoga movements in water requires excellent balance and coordination. The unstable water environment causes the body to have to constantly adjust to maintain balance, thereby improving the body’s equilibrium and coordination. This is especially important for the elderly and people with balance problems.
3. Who can practice underwater yoga?
The buoyancy of water reduces stress on joints, partially offsets body weight, and is very suitable for beginners who want to increase their physical strength, the elderly with mobility problems, pregnant women, and other people. People who are overweight or undergoing treatment for arthritis or low bone density, like osteoporosis, can also benefit from this.
4. Water yoga poses
1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
Mountain pose in water helps improve posture, strengthen legs, and promote relaxation.
Processed as follows:
Stand in chest-deep water with your feet hip-width apart. Focus on your core and distribute your weight evenly on both legs.
Hands clasped and raised above the head, or placed down along the body. Keep your spine in alignment with the water’s natural buoyancy.
Inhale and feel the water’s support gently lift your body. Exhale gently to release all tension.
Mountain pose when performed underwater (Source: Internet)
2. Tree pose
Focuses on enhancing balance, stability, and muscle strength.
Processed as follows:
Stand in waist-deep water, clasp your hands over your head, and bring one leg to rest on the opposite inner thigh.
Balancing one leg in the water will add an element of resistance, engaging the muscles more.
Furthermore, the water’s resistance tests your core, legs, and overall body coordination.
Tree pose yoga in water (Source: Internet)
3. Chair pose
The chair pose helps train and strengthen lower body muscles. Not only that, but when practiced underwater, this pose becomes a dynamic exercise for the legs and core muscles.
Processed as follows:
Stand in shoulder-deep water and sink into a squat position, as if sitting back in an imaginary chair.
Focus on your body; keep your back straight and your arms down or up.
Hold the position as much as possible.
Chair pose yoga in water (Source: Internet)
4. Lotus position
The underwater lotus pose helps increase flexibility in the hips and knees. This pose also stimulates relaxation, mindfulness, and deep breathing. In addition, the buoyancy of the water reduces joint pressure, soothing discomfort in the body.
Processed as follows:
Sit in chest-deep water and cross your legs in a lotus position.
Stretch the body.
Underwater yoga pose illustration (Source: Internet)
5. Boat pose
The underwater boat pose helps strengthen the abdominal and lower back muscles.
Processed as follows:
Sit at the bottom of the pool and lift your legs and body to form a V shape. The water helps reduce pressure on your back and makes the pose easier to do.
A favorite underwater yoga pose (Source: Internet)
Aquatic yoga not only brings outstanding health benefits but is also a fun and new method of exercise. With the support of water, you can perform yoga poses more easily while enjoying the relaxation and freshness of the water environment. Try practicing underwater yoga to see the difference and benefits it brings to the body and mind.