What is aquagym, and who is it for?

Aquagym has a reputation as something your aunt does on holiday, and it deserves a better one. It is a full class with music, an instructor and a room full of people moving together, except the room is a pool, and the floor is somewhere under your feet doing its best. In Italy, where acquagym is a fixture at hotels, lidos and municipal pools all summer, you will see every kind of person in the water, from teenagers to grandfathers, usually laughing.

What a session is like

Classes vary, but a typical one goes like this:

• The instructor stands on the poolside, demonstrating each move in exaggerated slow motion so you can follow from the water. Some go in with the group.
• You stand in the shallow end, usually at chest or waist height, spread out so everyone has room.
• The music starts, and you work through a series of moves: marching and jogging on the spot, jumping jacks, kicks, arm sweeps, side steps, the occasional bit of choreography that everyone gets slightly wrong at the same time.
• Equipment appears. Foam dumbbells, pool noodles, floating belts, sometimes small steps or even underwater bikes in specialist classes.
• A gentle wind-down at the end, and then the walk across the cold tiles to the changing room, which is the real test of character.

Some classes are gentle; some are surprisingly hard work. The water pushes back against every movement, so the more vigorously you move, the more you feel it. The same class can be relaxed or energetic depending on how much effort you put in.

Why the water helps beginners

For many people, the hardest part of a first fitness class is the feeling of being watched. Aquagym quietly removes most of that. Below the surface, nobody can see whether your kick is elegant or whether you have lost the rhythm. Everyone looks roughly the same: a row of heads and splashing arms. Mistakes disappear into the water.

The pace is also forgiving. If you need a breather, you can stand still and nobody notices. If a move does not work for you, you can do a smaller version. And because the session happens in the shallow end, you don't need to be a confident swimmer to join.

Who it is for

Almost everyone. Aquagym suits:

• People new to exercise classes who would like a gentle introduction.
• People returning after a long break who prefer to start somewhere relaxed.
• Non-swimmers and nervous swimmers, as long as the class stays in water where they can stand, which is worth confirming when booking.
• Anyone who simply likes water, music and company.

If you are pregnant, recovering from an injury or have a medical condition, it is worth checking with your doctor or physiotherapist first, and telling the instructor before the class.

How to find a class

• Your local pool or leisure centre is the obvious place to start. Look under "aqua aerobics", "aquafit" or "aqua fitness" on the timetable.
• On holiday in Italy, look for acquagym or acquafitness at hotels, campsites, stabilimenti balneari and municipal pools. Some beach clubs run classes in the sea.
• Lidos and outdoor pools often run summer sessions, which are a particular pleasure on a warm morning.
• Ask about levels. Some centres run gentle and more energetic versions.