Poolfit provides a wide variety of water workouts for all fitness levels. Blossoming Bumps with U.K. Aquatic Specialist, Haylley Pittam, is the first video targeted towards the pregnant or postnatal population. Blossoming Bumps is a 45-minute gentle water workout that was designed for aquanatal classes. However, it can also be used for recovery and flexibility. There is an emphasis on stretches and exercises for the lower back and feet/ankles.
Many Poolfit subscribers are all about the high intensity water workouts and we get that. However, we will always remain committed to providing a variety of water fitness formats for all fitness levels and populations. We are thrilled to be able to provide our first water exercise video that is geared towards aquanatal programming. Haylley specializes in aquanatal training for aquatic fitness instructors. Her U.K. organization, Aquatic Rehabilitation Exercise Academy (AREA), offers a 13.5 hour online course that trains water fitness instructors so that they can offer aquanatal classes in their communities.
Aquanatal Exercise
According to AREA, aqua aerobics is particularly effective for the prenatal and postnatal population because it offers a wide range of therapeutic and health benefits in the low-impact environment of the pool. Aquanatal exercise combines the therapeutic properties of the water with unique movement that targets the entire body in a holistic manor. In comparison to land exercise, it is far safer for mother and fetus to exercise in the water. Additionally, continuing activity and exercising once the baby is born has many benefits including reducing the chance of developing postnatal depression. Current recommendations on physical activity for expectant mothers aim to reduce issues such as obesity, diabetes and other health concerns. Pregnant women who are already active should be encouraged to maintain their physical activity levels. Watch Haylley talk more about the benefits of aquanatal exercise
Other Uses
Blossoming Bumps was designed for aquanatal classes; however, it is essentially a gentle aqua aerobic workout that can be used for other purposes. The muscles of the lower back become strained during pregnancy due to the anterior weight load. Many of the exercises in this workout target muscular endurance and flexibility for the lower back. Therefore, anyone suffering from weak or tight lower back muscles should consider trying this workout. Many of the exercises also target the feet and ankles because the extra weight during pregnancy also affects the lower extremities. Regardless of an individual’s current fitness level, this gentle water workout can also be used for recovery when returning to exercise activity after an injury or illness.
Haylley’s Surprise
Poolfit extends thanks and gratitude to Haylley for providing subscribers with the site’s first aquanatal workout. Ironically, Haylley and I had made arrangements in February 2022 to film her videos here in Florida in May 2022. At the end of March Haylley messaged me with a surprise. She was pregnant! The news was especially heartening because she and her husband had been trying for a long time. We wish them all the best on the birth of their first child.
More High Intensity Coming
If you are one of those subscribers who is all about the high intensity water workouts, stay tuned. Jenni Lynn Patterson LaCour and Chris LaCour were back in Florida filming last month and the next two videos to post will be from their S’WET brand. Thankfully, they got the filming done just before all hell broke loose on the filming set.
Hurricane Ian Update
I would like to thank all those who reached out to me with messages of concern last week. Poolfit videos are filmed at my house here in Sarasota, Fl. There were many big trees down in my yard, but fortunately none of them hit the house or pool area. The power was out for six days and we had to postpone a large filming production with Katy Coffey this week. However, we are slowly getting back to business as usual. In the meantime, our thoughts go out to Floridians in the hardest hit areas. The devastation is heartbreaking.