Training Out of the Pool?

[theMerFanc]

Allrighty, so my condition is going to be a bit different then most others so I understand if no one can help me out but I figured I would still ask.

I am not really at a point where I can access a pool right now. There is one on campus but I am no longer a student so I'd need to pay for it. There is a public pool but it is crazy expensive. There are few apartments with pools here because of how cold it is in the winter. So I want to know what sort of things I can do outside fo the water to help get me ready for being in the water. I feel like merfolks can't ONLY exercise at the pool right, there have to be at-home things you do.

I should also probably list my health issues because I get a lot of suggestions for things I cannot do. I am a martial artist and most of what I do relies on white muscle so I don't want to be body building or have crazy huge muscles because that will pull away from my art. I have terrible knee issues and can't squat or do much up and down movement (like bunny hops or squat jumps). I have asthma so cardio (running specifically) is a no-go. My lower back is horrid and I can't do any exercises that pull at my back muscles (like planks or bicycle kicks).

I currently weigh 183ish and I would really like to lower that number. I don't have a specific goal in mind because I don't really care but I want to loose weight to help with my joint problems and to flatten my belly for cosplay stuff. I originally wanted to get into tailswimming for the fitness aspect but I am unemployed and can't afford the pool prices, much less a monofin or tail!

Any help or personal experience or training ideas would be wonderful :)

[Echidna]

You can look at what outside-pool training regular swimmers do.

If you can't do cardio, you could try apnea exercises, yoga (the original one, which emphazises breath rather than gymnastics), and meditation.

We regularly rehearse our merballet choreographies on the dry, just like synchro swimmers do.

I fear there is not a way to really train the dolphin kick besides doing it in the water though-
unless you're into bellydancing, which could help with familiarizing yourself with similar movements.

[theMerFanc]

I do meditate and I do yin Yoga. I've wanted to do 'regular' yoga for awhile I just don't have the time to go to the classes XD I also train Wushu, Chi Gong and Tai Chi. I have been trying to work on apnea stuff but the apps are a tad confusing...

I am a drummer for our bellydancing circle. But I can't dance >.> I've tried, it's gross. But I could probably dance in my room with the lights off and the mirrors covered for the exercise benefits XD

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Do dry mermaid swimming motions. It helps get your body used to the movement so that when you're in the water again, it will feel more natural.

I do mine standing up, with arms in front style, about 10 - 15 mins of it. And I don't lift my head like you see them in the videos. Its feels more natural just to face the wall. When you're in the pool, you face the floor anyways, no sense in tiring oneself out faster than need be.

[suzanne86]

Do leg lifts on your back, and hold your legs up for as long as you can. Also do sit-ups. These will tighten your abs. Hiking (especially uphill) and bike riding will also help you maintain your wind (lung capacity).

[Mermaid Miranda]

I like to pull workouts from here: http://darebee.com/workouts.html
Most of them require little to no equipment and use your own body weight so you can build up some muscle but not bulky muscle which is more common when lifting heavy weights. Ashtanga and vinyasa yoga are also good for that. Hatha yoga has more of an emphasis on breathing, stretching and relaxation. (It's my favorite because most poses have different levels of pretzel-ness, so I can start at super non-flexible and slowly work my way through them. My old yoga instructor used to tell us it was ok to fall asleep during class, that's how laid back it is.) And, of course, any sort of cardio will help build up endurance for swimming. I agree that apnea apps are kind of confusing and a lot of the ones I've seen assume you can already hold your breath for a minute, which isn't always true. I've seen some very helpful videos and posts from other mers around here about that, though.
This workout always makes me wonder if the cookies are really worth it.

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=33572&stc=1

[Aksinya]

I think hula hooping is a good exercise. Maybe not with a super light hoop because then the rotations get faster, and it's can be harder to keep the hoop from falling down(plus lighter hoops are for incorporating tricks more than just on body hooping). Waist hooping has benefits for the core.
I like all the exercise ideas here, makes me want to be active more often.

[Mermaid Wesley]

I have bad joints too, some born with, some from sports, and I find being a dry mermaid incredibly taxing on my ankles :( lucky for me I live in California and even though I don't have a pool, like 1/5 of people I know does and there's the beach.
But monofin swimming is sortof its own excersize tbh. Look up dolphin kick dry training or something like that to get your technique down, but there's not much great substitute for swimming


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[theMerFanc]

Thanks everybody. I wouldn't have even thought of hoolahooping!


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[Mermaid Alaria]

I run and belly dance as well as swim (laps) and mermaid
:)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I can't do land exercises for more than 30 mins. This is because I have to wear custom arches, and my feet and back would hurt too much if I overdid any land exercises for more than that time.