Turn the pool into a gym with these cardio exercises

Water is denser than air, which is why an aqua exercise programme feels like a powerful, double-duty exercise

- Pulasta Dhar

Swimming is not just an excellent accessory to a good lifting routine, it can also be done as a self-contained full body exercise, one that works as a great replacement for the treadmill and other cardio activity. A swim workout also has recovery and rehabilitation advantages, which makes it a really good addition to any fitness regimen. Strictly speaking, you can't compare a pool to a gym, but the fact is that swimming forces one to be creative. As a result, you can mimic some of your favourite exercises during a regular lifting session in the pool. Even though weights might not be used in most of them, the added layer of challenge will come in the form of water resistance.