Aqua Yoga

Aqua yoga is a healthy way to incorporate gentle resistance to your yoga routine. Taking a water yoga class can be beneficial to your health in a number of ways, especially if you experience joint pain, low-back pain, or knee pain. Aqua yoga offers a low-impact way of practicing yoga that improves balance and flexibility, while reducing stress and anxiety.

You can do aqua yoga in any kind of body of water, such as a pool, spa, lake, or pond. Water yoga involves many of the same poses as a land-based yoga class, with subtle modifications to keep your head above water. 

Water yoga poses are much the same as traditional yoga asanas, with subtle modifications for the setting. In a typical water yoga class, you can expect to practice standing poses like tree, warrior II, dancer’s pose, chair, standing side bend, and half-moon pose. Most water yoga classes conclude with savasana, during which you float peacefully on your back.

Anyone can perform aquatic yoga poses, including kids and seniors, though it is advisable for beginners to start with simple standing poses, like mountain, tree, warrior II and chair. Water yoga is a great way to start learning about yoga—especially if you also experience chronic pain, since this low-impact setting can make some poses feel easier and safer. As you deepen your practice, you can move on to intermediate and advanced aquatic yoga poses.

Water yoga classes can have numerous benefits for your physical health, and it’s fun to do! The buoyancy and resistance of the water improves your flexibility and balance, while at the same time reducing stress, anxiety, and tension. Water yoga is particularly helpful for people with arthritis, low back pain, and pregnant women, since the absence of gravity can provide much-needed relief, while stimulating healthy movement.