Water workout gear

Aerobic water classes usually include basic pool gear. Your local pool may also provide major equipment like water treadmills, bikes and elliptical machines. You can also buy gear to help amp up the effectiveness of your time in the pool.

• Foam dumbbells. Lightweight and easy to transport — but plenty heavy when you're lifting them under water — the dumbbells come in a variety of resistance options.
• Water weights. Strap-on ankle or wrist weights increase the resistance to arm or leg movements in the pool. Also available in a range of resistance options.
• Kickboard. You'll quickly learn lots of kickboard drills once you have one of these inexpensive, lightweight pool tools. Some pools even offer team sports like board ball — think baseball, but your kickboard fills in as the bat.
• Hand paddles and resistance gloves. The marketplace is flush with options here. This gear is designed to help improve your strength training in the water.
• Buoyancy belt. These belts help keep your head above water in the deep end while leaving your hands free. You can run, lift weights and do other workouts using your hands, without needing to tread water.

Want to mix it up? Mayo Clinic's health and wellness experts also endorse an approach that splits your time in and out of the pool. For instance, warm up in the pool with some deep water jogging, then jump out of the water to do pushups, planks or lunges on your towel poolside. Next, dive back into the water for some kickboarding, weightlifting and more jogging.

The more you explore water workouts, the sooner you'll zero in on your favorite activities. Whatever your choice, the research says you'll reap health benefits that can include added strength and flexibility, improved cardio fitness, and even weight loss. Maybe it's time to join the aqua fitness movement?