The aqua bike and aqua fitness classes are both the basis of aqua fitness activities.
But they have some notable differences that can make it difficult to decide which one is best for your program. In this blog post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each type of class, as well as the technical and mechanical contrasts between them.
Aquabike and aquafitness classes offer a unique opportunity to get fit in the water, with both options providing an effective way to exercise while enjoying the aquatic environment.
It can be difficult to decide which one is best for your program, as there are significant differences between them.
Aquabiking offers an intense total body workout while working lower body muscle groups through pedaling movements, making it ideal for specialized physical therapy functions. However, aqua aerobics (and its other themes: Aqua boxing, aquaPower…) is distinguished by its aerobic activity components that involve movements such as arms, legs, or the entire body.
Ultimately, determining which type of class is best for you depends on your evolving class program in terms of results for you and your participants.
Understanding the technical and mechanical contrasts between aquabiking and aqua aerobics classes.
Create an aquabike course:
Aquabike can also be a course with arm exercises, which train the resistance of the water. To stay balanced on the bike, the user will have to optimize the contraction of the abdominal strap, since he is pedaling. As a result, we have a range of additional exercises.
For example, we can propose an effort phase with the arms performing sculling movements. Sitting, semi-sprinting or standing while pedaling for (30 seconds for example). Then concentrate only on pedaling while accelerating.
With all these possible variations, it’s hard not to be able to create your own diversified, targeted and intense course.
In the example above, we are far from a “spinning in water” class! Besides, for a basic aquabike course, we will only vary the speed and the positions, which is already not bad.
This course objective is essentially aimed at the bottom of the course. That’s why many people think that an aquabike class is just pedaling in the water. But it can be much more complex than that.
Benefits:
- Several hundred or even thousands of pedal turns for 50 minutes of class and all the work of the water on the skin, muscles, etc.
- Fixed bike: stable and sheathed body movement throughout the course
Disadvantages:
- The limit of exercises related to the aqua gym panel.
- Still unknown capacity of this activity, since it seems limited (what, we only pedal).
The feeling of cardio effort will be delayed for a beginner (he must first adapt in terms of muscular resistance to the aquabike). Then, he will have enough tone to keep up with the pace and have his cardio sensations like a land sport.
Create an aqua gym class?
Creating a water aerobics class can be very beneficial and stimulating for people who practice this discipline. Water aerobics is a sport activity with a double effect: gentle and holistic or dynamic and cardio: it offers a complete session of strength training and cardio training. It goes back a long way in history and has been popularized by various sources that make it the discipline we know today. The implementation of a water aerobics class is relatively “simple”: it is necessary to reproduce or almost a classic fitness class, adapting the exercises to the height of the pool and to the clients who practice it. This type of class can include various exercises. Such as aerobic movements, stretching and more intensive exercises designed to work, for example, the upper body on a block. Then the lower body on another block. Finally, the whole body on the third block.
These blocks can be repeated two or three times, depending on the ability of the participants in the class – or the body can be repeated. In short, the possibilities are many and varied.
Benefits:
- Many exercises available on the web
- Theme diversification such as aqua boxing…
- The availability of a wide range of materials
Disadvantages:
The connotation of an activity for seniors.
Requires a good knowledge of biomechanics.
In conclusion
There is no miracle method to create a good aqua gym or aquabike course, because each participant is different and his or her physical condition varies between each session.
Coaches must adapt their exercises according to the target audience; if the objective is focused on a general improvement of muscle tone or cardiovascular fitness, then each session must be adapted with more or less intense movements in order to maximize the results sought by each participant.
A good weekly program will promote the progressive improvement of performance as well as the harmonious development of the body of your faithful “aqua students”.
Have a good class
Thank you for reading.
Aqua Coach : The blog
