PABA (Parent and Baby Aqua) Aqua Aerobics
INTRODUCING THE WORLD'S FIRST AQUA AEROBICS FITNESS CLASS FOR PARENTS TO ENJOY WITH THEIR BABIES!
We are pleased to announce the launch of PABA, the brand new aqua aerobics exercise class for parents to enjoy with their children in the water.
Introduction to PABA Aqua Aerobics
This is a 30 minute aqua aerobics work out program for parents and babies. It is designed to improve parent fitness and to introduce babies to the water, whilst also promoting child health. The PABA aqua aerobics program is comprised of a series of moderately paced, low impact and fat-burning aqua aerobic exercises for the parents that integrate with elements of the tried and tested Aquababies swimming program.
There are two (water aerobics) levels based on the age of the babies. The first is for parents with babies up to 12 months; the second for babies from 12 months to 30 months. This ensures that the children are engaging in age and ability appropriate aqua aerobics exercises and also that the water aerobics exercise program is adjusted accordingly
The concept of parents working out with their babies was born out of spending thousands of hours swimming with parents, listening to their concerns, observing them move in the water and recognising that they were already exercising. There was a universal desire to regain their figures and keep fit, but many could not or did not want to leave their babies. Hence this aqua aerobics program was created, enabling mothers to engage in a mutually beneficial exercise program with their babies.
Benefits of Water Aerobics for Parents
Physical
Aqua Aerobics is an excellent method of exercise which improves the fitness of the heart and lungs, tones the body and reduces fat.
It is an ideal form of postpartum exercise as it is kinder to joints and the water supports some of the extra pregnancy weight.
Social
Working out with other likeminded people is a good motivational factor. Bodyweight issues are important to postnatal women and exercising in a homogenous group helps to reduce self-consciousness.
This program also offers a social outlet for parents to meet other parents with young children, commonly cited as a valuable experience for new parents.
- Enjoyable maternal and child health activity for parent and baby
- Excellent parent/baby bonding opportunities
- Moderately paced, low impact, fat burning aqua aerobic exercises
- Paced water aerobics classes to suit different levels of ability
- Ideal for post partum mothers
- Homogenous group is motivational
- Social outlet for parents
Benefits of Baby Exercise and Water Aerobics for Babies
Water is a great equaliser for babies and they can achieve some level of independence before they can crawl. The water provides support and they love the fun and freedom of the whole experience. More importantly, the classes will:
- Provide water safety training
- Build water confidence
- Teach basic breathing exercises (for baby health)
- Provide some of the basic foundations of swimming and exercise for kids
- Encourage physical, social and psychological development
- Enhance their awareness
- Improve a baby's eating and sleeping patterns
- Promote co-ordination and child health.
The multi-sensory environment of the swimming pool opens up whole new experiences for babies. The baby exercise classes are a good opportunity for mother/baby bonding as they involve plenty of physical and eye contact. Babies will also enjoy the interaction with other babies offered in a group situation of baby exercise classes. All this provides the foundation for baby health and an active childhood, which is wholly beneficial for all children's health.
Combining Experiences into a Single Aqua Aerobics Program
Our experience of developing and delivering successful baby and toddler swimming programs for the past 15 years has given us a unique insight into this area of child health. Parents are always commenting that they are getting a work out too during the aqua aerobics classes, an unexpected bonus. We are constantly evaluating our swimming program in our desire to provide the best baby swimming program It was through this process that we began to look at how we could incorporate a more structured water exercise routine into our baby swimming classes - so Parent & Baby Aqua (water aerobics) was born.
PABA Aqua Aerobics Success
Our (PABA) aqua aerobics course has been piloted over six months with several groups of mothers nationally, with positive results. Babies are becoming water confident and learning the foundations of swimming, while Parents are being taken through a carefully structured water aerobics exercise program. Formal applications have been made to protect the program, which is now ready to roll out nationally.
PABA Aqua Aerobics General Guidelines
We suggest new mothers wait until their six week postpartum check up before joining our water aerobics classes and advise all new mothers to seek medical advice before undertaking any child exercise programs.
We do not insist babies are immunised before starting the aqua aerobics classes, as indeed many parents choose not to. However, we stress the importance of keeping the baby warm out of the water and not to attend the class if the baby is unwell. The guidance from the Aquababies states:
The modern techniques of pool water cleaning make the likelihood of transmitting infections such as polio, tetanus, etc extremely unlikely. Thus, the immunisation status of the baby is not a major factor when considering the age at which a baby can swim.
Babies over three years are considered too big for these baby exercise classes.
Pool temperature must be 30 degrees (centigrade) or over.
Aqua Aerobics. An Objective Overview.
Ok we realise that as this is a fairly new and innovative approach to child health and we are very excited by the results of our pilot study so far. However you may wish for a more objective overview, so here are a few lines from our favorite online font of knowledge – Wikipedia on water aerobics (aqua aerobics).
In addition to the standard benefits of any exercise, the use of water in water aerobics supports the body and reduces the risk of muscle or joint injury. The mitigation of gravity by flotation places less stress on the joints when stretching, and can allow a greater range of motion. The mitigation of gravity makes water aerobics safe for individuals able to keep their heads out of water, including the elderly. Exercise in water can also prevent overheating through continuous cooling of the body. Another benefit is that you do not even have to be a strong swimmer to participate in water aerobics.
PABA Aqua Aerobics Program Creator
The Parent & Baby Aqua (PABA) aqua aerobics program was created by Julie-ann James. She was a successful competitive swimmer in Australia for many years before moving to UK and founding the Aquababies (Baby Swimming) programs. Her Baby Swimming programs are now taught extensively in UK and in many countries globally.
Julie-ann is now one of the UK's leading baby and toddler swimming consultants and trainer. A member of the STA and ASA, Julie-ann has been teaching babies and children of this age group to swim for over 20 years and totally committed to raising the standards of this activity and improving children's health and safety.
PABA Aqua Aerobics News and Updates
If If you want to learn more or get updates on this great new Parent and Baby water aerobics program please go to our new BLOG (http://aquababies-uk.com/babyswimming/), where we will post regular updates and a list of venues where you and your child can learn our unique form of aqua aerobics as well as have fun.