Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Aquafit - just for older ladies ?

32 replies

vxa2 · 25/08/2021 21:43

I am looking for a class I can do in my lunchtime and just about the only class is aquafit. I’m 50 so not exactly young but I am envisaging lots of older ladies in swimming hats and flowery cossies. I need to lose about a stone and I also want something which will help with anxiety. I’m working from home and I have to really force myself to go out - I work full time and am studying too so my days are pretty full and it’s easy to just end up sitting at my desk.
Would love to know what others think of aquafit. Should just make myself go out for a walk for 20 mins each day ?

OP posts:

serene12 · 25/08/2021 21:49

It’s a myth that aqua is just for older ladies. I started going when I was about fifty, the intensity of the class varies according to the instructor. The exercise is much easier on your joints, we do lunges, squats, sprinting etc. to music. I feel much more toned, since I started and it’s great fun.

turkeyboots · 25/08/2021 21:52

I love aquafit, but there aren't many in my classes under the age of 70. But it is a great class.

caz123456 · 25/08/2021 21:53

When I used to go to aquafit I dragged my teenage daughter along and was so surprised to see all age groups there. We loved it and it was hard work! It will be different everywhere but there were teens up to very fit ladies (and men!) in their 70's. Give it a try, you'll probably love it.

Lunde · 25/08/2021 21:56

I started going to Aqua fit when I was 26 and still go now that I am almost 60

MoonbeamSprinkles · 25/08/2021 21:57

I love aqua fit!

I am a real gym bunny, I’m mid 30’s and do weights, yoga, have a pt and do bootcamps, but my hands down fave is aqua fit.

I love dancing in the water, the music is cheesy but good fun and everyone is so inclusive and friendly.
I always feel like I’m at the best holiday camp (in a good way), or like I’ve had a great night out.

Enjoy!

saraclara · 25/08/2021 21:59

It depends which session you go to st my pool. Yep, weekday daytime tends to see older people there, but by no means exclusively. Weekends and evening sessions see more younger people and men.

CatCup · 25/08/2021 22:01

In my 30s and I enjoy it

TheViewOutsideMyWindow · 25/08/2021 22:02

I've only ever seen older people, possibly due to the time of day my local one is on. I wouldn't let that stop me!

Dancingonmoonlight · 25/08/2021 22:07

I joined an evening one locally for a couple of weeks when I was in my 30s. I was the youngest by 30/40 years. I stopped going because they kept complaining loudly to the instructor that he was going too fast and many of them simply refused to do some of the exercises they didn't like (which is fine if they couldn't couldn't do them for physical reasons but they could - they just didn't like them!). They kept telling the instructor what they wanted to do which got annoying as they mostly wanted to only talk.

PandoraP · 25/08/2021 22:12

In my pool it looks like it’s for old or really unfit ladies. Not sure why, maybe the time of day.

GalaPie · 25/08/2021 22:12

My main form of exercise when I was in my early 30s was aqua. I had two small children and there was a class at 8pm which was the only one I could go to. A few older women but mostly my age. We used to drive home afterwards in our bathrobes with wet hair in turbans, straight into a hot shower and into bed. It was our version of a spa experience. I really miss the camaraderie of that class.
I lost 3 stone that year.

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 25/08/2021 22:13

I went in my twenties! Loved it!

TheatricalGiraffe · 25/08/2021 22:17

I love aquafit!

Daytime classes are probably more older ladies but the one I go to in the evenings is 90% people my age (early 20s)

Original poster

vxa2 · 26/08/2021 07:17

Thank you everyone ! Much more positive than I expected.

OP posts:

evilharpy · 26/08/2021 07:59

Absolutely not although it will depend a lot on the instructor and the group. I know a couple of aqua instructors that teach a very high energy class, one does it HIIT style.

Definitely give it a try.

YeOldeTrout · 26/08/2021 08:07

Sounds like You'd fit in at our classes, OP, assuming you like the very loud music.

TootTootTootToot · 26/08/2021 08:47

@MoonbeamSprinkles

I love aqua fit!

I am a real gym bunny, I’m mid 30’s and do weights, yoga, have a pt and do bootcamps, but my hands down fave is aqua fit.

Enjoy!

What a lovely positive post! This is my experience too

CMOTDibbler · 26/08/2021 08:51

I used to go in my early twenties and loved it - I am far too uncoordinated for normal gym classes, but no one could see my mistakes in the pool. Its much harder work than you think, and you can make it harder by being in the deeper part of the pool as well

EBearhug · 26/08/2021 08:57

It depends which session you go to st my pool. Yep, weekday daytime tends to see older people there, but by no means exclusively. Weekends and evening sessions see more younger people and men.

Similar with us, though it's a long time since I did a daytime class. It also depends on the teacher. We occasionally have a sub who is fab, but very hard work, where as the normal teachers are a bit easier (though my triceps and legs were still knackered after last night's class.)

EBearhug · 26/08/2021 08:58

Agree with deeper water. If you are a strong swimmers and there's a deep-water class near you, that's the best. They don't do them at our pool, sadly.

Spodge · 26/08/2021 17:45

I did aqua in my forties when very overweight and I loved it. Most of the ladies were in their 60s or 70s but there were a few nearer my age and a few older men, too.

Our teacher used to give us options to make it easier/harder and I did get a few death stares when I jumped up high and splashed the hair of the ladies near me.

serene12 · 26/08/2021 18:51

Aquaerobics is so popular at our gym, that management decided a few weeks ago to open up all 3 lanes to enable 30 of us to participate.
Our new instructor, has said if you don’t want to get your hair wet, you shouldn’t be at aqua. It’s great to seeing older members who’s mobility had deteriorated over lockdown, really benefitting and enjoying the classes.

EBearhug · 26/08/2021 23:04

if you don’t want to get your hair wet, you shouldn’t be at aqua.

Was saying this to another class member the other day, who was relating how a woman in another class they were in had complain about getting splashed.

I'm not sure everyone has had the memo that aqua = water = getting wet.

TreeSmuggler · 26/08/2021 23:14

I did a few classes to try it out and I'm in my 30s. It was mainly older women but I certainly didn't get any weird looks or feel out of place or anything. To be honest though it wasn't much of a work out, and I'm very unfit. So I do think it would be best suited to older people who are mobility challenged. But why not try it out.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 26/08/2021 23:34

I used to go with a mate who was 24. Didn't see a single swim cap.

Flip

1 2