Using pool noodles is a fantastic way to add some fun to your exercise or swimming routine while helping to build up your strength and cardio. The noodle buoyancy makes it an excellent fit for resistance training, core workouts, water running, and many other exercises. Here are some simple and fun water workouts with noodles that you can do the next time you're at the pool.
Swim Runs
You must be in deep enough water where your feet can’t touch the ground for this activity. Hold the noodle around your back and beneath your arms, and float at the water's surface. It will appear in the shape of a U behind you. In this position, try to run across your pool. The water and the noodle will add to your body's resistance. Doing this workout more will improve your endurance.
Squats
Squatting with your noodle in chest-high water will target your glute and thigh muscles. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Stretch your arms out and hold the noodle on the water's surface. Bend your hips and knees at the same time into a squat. Try and push the noodle down through the water to your knees. Once you've done that, you can slowly reverse the motion and return to your starting position. It's essential to keep your back straight through the entire exercise.
Push-Downs
Standing in waist-deep water, move your feet in line with your hips and your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, holding the pool noodle in front of you. The noodle should rest on the surface of the water while it's in your hands. While pushing down on the noodle, raise one leg straight behind you until your torso is parallel to the ground and repeat with your other leg.
Planks
Adding a noodle plank to your regimen can help you build your core rapidly. Place a noodle directly under your chest in a pushup position. Straighten out your body with just your toes touching the pool's bottom. Keep your arms straight out in front of you while holding the noodle in each hand a shoulder-length apart. Try to stay in this position for 15 to 30 seconds. With consistent repetition, you should reach a minute for each rep and push yourself to last even longer than that.
There are plenty of opportunities for simple and fun water workouts with noodles. At FoamNoodles.com, we offer a wide range of swimming noodles, including solid core pool noodles, that can take your training to the next level. You can purchase noodles individually or in bulk, which can make them perfect for group exercise classes. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.