Water Aerobics for Full-Body Exercise 

Who likes Aqua Dance classes? 

Aqua Dance is a fun water workout class for anybody, males and females of all ages. People who love to dance but may have limits to their movements on land especially love water dancing. After all, dancing in water is easy on the joints. 

What is an Aqua Dance class? 

Aqua Dance is a water aerobics exercise class that is a little different from the traditional water class, as it takes the work out of the exercise. The instructor leads pre-choreographed movements matched to music that is fun and familiar to participants. The music includes oldies and rock and roll – musical favorites from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and beyond. People hear music they enjoy and forget they are even working out. Music takes over the brain and allows people to have fun moving at a higher intensity than normal, which benefits their cardiovascular health and muscle tone. Muscles engaged include all upper-body muscles, legs, glutes and core.  

Class participants can get lost in the music and the fun of this water workout with their friends, so there is no need for any equipment. Participants are mostly stationary in class as they dance. They only travel minimally, typically a four to eight count in one direction before they dance in place again.   

Water dancing is full of cardiovascular health exercises that make up a full body workout as class participants move to the music. Working against the water provides some resistance and therefore strengthens the muscles to some degree. When the instructor says “ground” in the middle of a dance, participants must keep both feet in the same spot on the pool floor. This requires participants to stabilize their core more, which adds intensity to certain exercises. During a grounding exercise, participants are instructed to move their arms through the water with pushing and pulling movements, side to side movements or overheard movements, all while keeping their feet grounded to the pool floor. Legs receive exercise when used to run in place in the water. Core strength is essential for all Aqua Dance water aerobics exercises.  

It is important to know that Aqua Dance does not involve advanced dance movements, but basic athletic movements that are choreographed to music in the water. Participants run to song, jump to song, move arms, swing legs, kick legs and more. Mastering activities like this while remaining stationary in the water are some of the best exercises for core strength.  

Where and when does the class meet? 

Aqua Dance is offered in the salt water lap pool at WK Health & Fitness Center on Greenwood Road.  

Why do Aqua Dance? 

Most Aqua Dance participants are people who want to come and enjoy a fun water workout. It's an all-over, full-body workout routine that ultimately benefits strength, balance, muscles, heart health, hip mobility, thoracic mobility and more. In addition, Aqua Dance makes for a healthy community where class members get to socialize and laugh while they exercise. All people can benefit from aerobic water exercise programs like this, no matter their starting point.  

All levels welcome.