The Marvel of WaterGym

“Have you ever heard of WaterGym?”
 

“Would you believe it if I were to tell you that I prefer to do aerobic exercises in the swimming pool than to swim in it?”
 

In fact,both the above questions are related to a floatation belt which is distributed under the brand name of WaterGym. It is sold in the US market and is specially designed to be tied around one's waist so that one can float vertically in a deep-water pool with one’s head and neck above the water level. Hence one can perform all sorts of exercises which are more extensive than swimming, without worrying about drowning. Exercises such as jogging, cycling, dancing with the body in the upright position or dancing with the body in a sleeping posture on the water, front or side leg-kicking, boat rowing, rock climbing, various yoga asanas, aerobic exercises and many other forms of exercise, some of which you may not have even thought of can be done.
 

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX4TfSRxtlI)


     WaterGym is now widely used by the female swimmers at the Bukit Mertajam Country Club particularly for those who go there for a morning dip. Now, practically every female swimmer who comes for the morning-session work-out would carry a WaterGym belt, thanks to the energetic and efficient Miss Chiah Eng Too. She took the initiative and trouble to order the belts via the internet for members and friends who were interested to purchase the equipment. Since the past few months, she has already ordered more than twenty belts.

     Those who have used the WaterGym floatation belt, all agree that exercising using the WaterGym is more effective than swimming to burn off calories in a single session of a workout as it is more vigorous and more effective.

     Miss Chiah opined that,“I find exercising with the WaterGym is very good. It helps to strengthen my muscles and improve my swimming strokes.”

I have personally benefited much from using the WaterGym. After a few sessions using the belt in the swimming pool, to my amazement I was able to master backstroke swimming - something I have been wanting to master. Now I can perform more variety of exercises in the water apart from backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle - all these exercises can be done with or without using the WaterGym belt.

WaterGym has given me a new insight regarding swimming. From my experience of using WaterGym, I perceive that swimming is not as difficult as most people are made to believe. Actually, a person just needs to master the technique of breathing in the water,that is, to inhale with either the nose or mouth when his face is above the water and exhales with the nose once he is totally immersed in the water. As long as he has acquired the technique, he can innovate his own style of swimming; not necessarily confining to the conventional styles of swimming like backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

     The story of the widespread use of WaterGym at Bukit Mertajam Country Club started with my wife who has been plagued for years by her knee problem. One orthopaedic surgeon at the Hospital Pantai Mutiara in Penang, Mr.Wong Chee Leong, advised her, four years ago, to reduce her weight to lessen the burden of her knees in supporting her body. She was counselled to do exercises in the water as it is injury-free due to the buoyancy of the water. As my wife is a non-swimmer, she needs a float as a safety measure. She has tried out many types of float,but not to her satisfaction until last December when she was recommended to buy the WaterGym floatation belt from a swimming instructor at the Penang Sports Club. She found WaterGym to be the best floatation belt she has ever used.

     She uses it to do cycling and jogging in the pool. She also tries out other exercises that she has learnt from the physiotherapists at the hospital.

     Miss Chiah was curious and fascinated by the many uses of the WaterGym. After watching my wife using the WaterGym and watching the WaterGym DVD, Miss Chiah wasted no time in ordering the belt from the US. She loves cycling and remarks that cycling in water is safer than doing it on the road as one is exposed to the high risk of being robbed or knocked down by a motor vehicle.

     As the use of the Watergym becomes widespread among members, the rapport among them has improved, as the members would meet to explore,discuss and teach one another new exercises using the floatation belt.

     Occasionally, they would ‘temporarily forget about their weight control’ to organise Sunday morning gatherings with a potluck.

     Watergym is really a marvellous equipment. It is not only used to tie to the waist of the swimmer, it has also ‘tied the hearts’ of the members together by strengthening the relationship of the club members through frequent interaction and get-together.

     Believe me you will be impressed with the WaterGym.