My Top Five Water Aerobics FAQs!

Yesterday I rocked up to my local outdoor pool for a water walking session to discover that three-quarters of the pool was packed.  

I delicately slid into the pool narrowly avoided a fairly major knee injury when I attempted to heave myself into the pool, only to slip suddenly and land in the shallow end on my knees.  I am many things, but graceful isn’t one of them.

Fortunately, apart from myself and two other ladies in my water walking lane, the average age of everyone else in the pool was approximately 87.9 and none of them were wearing their glasses, so I’m fairly sure none of them saw my somewhat embarrassing entrance.

I began to walk up and down the pool when music started blasting and that’s when I realised why the remaining three-quarters of the pool was so full.  It was a water aerobics class!

Now being the dedicated people watcher that I am, I was fascinated by what I was witnessing and could not wait to get home and share it with you.

I did wonder if I should write a post titled ‘The Five Types of People You See At A Water Aerobics Class’ or maybe one called ‘Water Aerobics. Should I Wear ALL My Jewellery In The Pool?” but then I decided a Water Aerobics FAQs style post would probably be the best approach.  

Because let’s face it, who doesn’t have a list of Frequently Asked Questions about water aerobics that need answering ASAP?!

Kirsten’s Top Five Water Aerobics FAQs

1.  What should I wear to a water aerobics class?

Great question!  You should wear togs, obviously.  

If gripping the bottom of the pool is an issue, you might like to invest in a pair of slip on pool shoes.  Although don’t bother too much with putting an inner sole inside them because they will just float out half way through the class and cause you a fair bit of discomfort and possibly some embarrassment should they float to the top.

If the class is in an outdoor pool, a sun shirt is a good idea as is a hat.

2.  Does it matter what sort of hat I wear?

It most certainly does.  There are only four types of hats that are acceptable at a water aerobics class.

1. A sun visor made from waterproof fabric (any colour)
2. A lightweight sports cap made from waterproof fabric (any colour)
3. A hand crotched broad-brimmed hat in either lime green or electric blue
4. No hat at all

3.  Should I take my jewellery off before a class?

No.  In fact, you should probably put ALL of your jewellery on to attend a water aerobics class, although only if it’s gold.  

Fellow attendees (or nosey water walkers) will marvel at your ability to wade through the water while your wrists, earrings and neck are heavily laden with 47 bracelets, 2 pairs of earrings and 5 necklaces!

4.  Do you have to be very coordinated to do water aerobics?

Well that depends.  If you want to hang out with Joyce, Marg and Bev* in the back row and chat about the last cruise you went on, when you’re going to be getting your next flu shot and what time you’ll be meeting for a coffee tomorrow, then no,  you won’t need to very coordinated at all.  

If however you would like to be in the front row with Sue, Mandy and Sarah* and punch through that water like a ninja while telling the instructor about the hike you’re thinking about doing this afternoon, then yes, you’ll need to be reasonably coordinated.

5.  Can men attend water aerobics or is just for women?

Of course men can do a water aerobics class, however there is a strict One Man Per Class Policy.  Also, that man must look like he is in intense pain for the entire duration of the class due to either 

a) indigestion (probs shouldn’t have inhaled that pie in the car park before the class started)

b) his sciatic nerve playing up, which is why his doctor suggested he start water aerobics or

c) he thought water aerobics would be a way to get a bit of quiet time to himself but now he’s in a pool, surrounded by 57 women, 37 of whom WON’T STOP TALKING.

And there we have it.  All of your burning Water Aerobics FAQs answered!  

I don’t know about you, but next time there’s a class on I’d quite like to join Joyce, Marg and Bev* in the back row.  They sound like my kind of people.

*Not their actual names.  I haven’t got a clue what their actual names are, but if I had to bet my next pool entry fee on it ($5.50 for those playing along at home), I’d say the names I’ve given them are pretty much 99.9% accurate.

What sort of exercise are you into? Water aerobics or something else?