Chennai, India – Fitness enthusiasts in Chennai are diving into an exhilarating new trend: floating fitness. This innovative approach to exercise, which includes workouts in swimming pools and paddle yoga on lakes, is rapidly gaining traction across the city, offering a fun and challenging alternative to traditional land-based routines.
The appeal of floating fitness lies in its unique blend of challenge and enjoyment, transforming conventional workouts into an engaging aquatic experience. Participants report finding the balance required on floating boards both demanding and entertaining, often leading to moments of shared laughter and a renewed sense of childlike fun.
The Rise of Water Workouts in Chennai
Chennai’s fitness landscape is continually evolving, with a growing number of individuals seeking novel and effective ways to stay active. Water-based exercises have long been recognized for their low-impact nature and full-body benefits, and floating fitness takes this a step further by introducing an element of instability that intensifies the workout.
Sapna Parekh, a PR professional in Chennai, highlighted her experience, noting that while balancing on the floating board was challenging, it was precisely this aspect that made the sessions enjoyable. The collective experience of falling into the water and laughing together contributed to a feeling of being a child again, underscoring the social and mental well-being benefits of these classes.
What is Floating Fitness?
Floating fitness typically involves performing exercises on specialized boards or mats that float on the surface of water, usually in a swimming pool. These boards, such as the AquaBase or Aqua Body Strong boards, are designed to be stable enough for various movements but still introduce an element of instability. This instability forces the body to engage core muscles continuously to maintain balance, significantly enhancing the workout’s effectiveness.
The exercises performed on these floating platforms can range from high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and circuit training drills to yoga and Pilates. Paddle yoga, an extension of this trend, involves practicing yoga poses on a stand-up paddleboard on larger bodies of water like lakes.
Key Benefits of Floating Fitness
The advantages of incorporating floating fitness into a routine are numerous, appealing to a wide range of individuals from seasoned athletes to those seeking a gentler introduction to exercise.
Full-Body Engagement and Core Strengthening
One of the primary benefits is the comprehensive full-body workout it provides. The constant effort to stabilize oneself on the water engages muscles not typically activated in land-based exercises. This leads to improved core strength, balance, and proprioception (the body’s awareness of its position in space).
Low-Impact and Injury Prevention
Floating fitness offers a low-impact workout, making it ideal for individuals with joint issues, injuries, or those easing into an exercise routine. The water cushions the joints, reducing strain while still allowing for an intense workout. This can also aid in injury rehabilitation and prevention.
Mix of HIIT and Yoga for Enhanced Health
Many floating fitness classes combine elements of HIIT and yoga. HIIT workouts are known for boosting metabolic rates and fat loss, while yoga improves flexibility, cardiovascular health, and reduces injury risk. The synergy of these two forms amplifies the overall health benefits.
Mental Well-being and Fun Factor
Beyond the physical benefits, floating fitness is often described as fun and challenging. The novelty of exercising on water, coupled with the playful aspect of maintaining balance and occasional tumbles, contributes to a positive mental state and stress reduction.
Floating Fitness Providers in India
The popularity of floating fitness is not confined to Chennai; it’s a growing trend across India. A Delhi-based startup, GetWetFit, founded in 2024, has emerged as India’s first floating fitness brand, offering workouts, meditation, and healing sessions on water. GetWetFit conducts fitness events across various Indian cities, including Chennai, Ludhiana, Agra, Indore, and Udaipur, and plans to expand its regular sessions to Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. They utilize “aqua charge boards” that are safe for individuals weighing between 20 kg and 120 kg and claim to burn 1.5 to 2 times more calories than traditional activities.
Aqua-fitness, in general, has been a known concept, with coaches like Pooja Arora bringing specialized routines combining aerobics, crossfit, and HIIT to Chennai. These vertical fitness sessions in water do not require swimming knowledge and are suitable for all ages, including pregnant women and the elderly, providing an effective way to burn calories faster than land-based workouts due to water’s density.
As more Chennai residents seek engaging and effective fitness solutions, floating fitness stands out as a refreshing and holistic water workout trend that promises both physical challenge and a good laugh.
