You already know that regular exercise can be one of the major keys to improved health and a longer lifespan, but sometimes it can become difficult to motivate yourself. Whether you’re bored with your routine, or aches and pains slow you down, you might often feel tempted to skimp on exercise.

One of the best ways to combat boredom is to add something new to your routine. If a water aerobics class is available at your gym or local pool, give it a whirl! You might find yourself surprised at these benefits of water exercise.

It’s low impact. Regular workouts can place strain on our joints, but water provides a cushion against gravity. Water aerobics is often the recommended solution for those with arthritis or recent injuries.

It can help you build strength. As we age, it can become difficult to maintain muscular strength without stressing our joints. Resistance in the water can range from 4 to 42 times greater than resistance in air, so your muscles will get a workout without the strain of lifting heavy weights.

It helps you build endurance. The entire time you’re in the pool, you’re using your body to move through the water. This helps you to build endurance naturally, as opposed to stop-and-start workouts in the weight room.

It can relieve stress and anxiety. Immersion in water is soothing, and quite literally washes away your anxiety.

It reduces blood pressure. When you’re in a pool, the water pressure actually helps to improve circulation. Your blood pressure and resting heart rate might actually decrease over a few sessions of water aerobics.

It’s fun. Believe it or not, water aerobics is catching on with other age groups as well! So if you enjoy your class, invite your kids and grandkids to join you in the pool. At the very least, attending classes regularly will keep you socially engaged and help you make new friends.

Burn calories. Finally, since water aerobics is exercise after all, you will certainly burn calories during your class. This helps to keep your weight in check, preventing many chronic weight-related health conditions.

Water aerobics classes are designed to work for anyone, at any level of fitness. After checking with your doctor to be sure exercise is safe for you, call a few gyms or rec centers and ask if you can try a class for free. Most will allow you to give it a shot before committing to a fee for regular classes.