Calm waters

The Pharaohs Club at Wafi City has been conducting antenatal classes for expectant mothers. The special feature of these classes being that it is a customised fitness programme held in water involving simple moves performed to music.

Water is considered an excellent medium to exercise in as the hydrostatic pressure provides the required resistance for an effective workout. Women are required to just stand at the shallow end of the pool and follow the exercises being demonstrated by the instructor.

According to Emma Jones, the instructor for the classes, "The feel of water is very soothing and therapeutic and since the impact is mild there is no weight on the bones or shock for them to absorb."

"The feel of the water around me was very soothing for my lower back," says Tess who did these classes for both her pregnancies. The exercise helps to strengthen the upper back, the entire trunk corset, hamstring, quadriceps, inner thighs and the pelvic floor. Higher impact exercises in water called aqua aerobics are also held at the Pharaohs Club for people who enjoy exercising in water. These exercises are also excellent for people with knee and joint problems like arthritis.

The antenatal aqua classes conducted by Jones is drawn from the Speedo Aquatic Water System and unlike normal aqua aerobics, involves no movements like twisting or bending from the waist that could exert the abdominal muscle.

Like any other exercise programme during pregnancy antenatal aqua classes requires participants to have clearance from their doctors and women can begin the exercise after 12 weeks and continue right until their 40th week.