I just started this internship that takes out a large chunk of my day, leaving little time and energy for going to the gym. However, I discovered something that I can do in the morning of those days that wakes me up and gets a little work out in...jumping in my pool and treading water!

Now I didn’t think there was much more to treading than the contests that my cousins and I used to have at summer parties when we were young; but it really can be a work out if you want it to be. I always start out with a normal tread using my hands and legs to keep my head above the water. Then after a couple minutes I only use my legs and try to keep my arms raised above my head. This is truly a full body workout and you can completely control your intensity level by increasing or decreasing time to each tread session.

Apparently there are different kinds of treading that you can find online to really mix it up. In one that I find challenging, you float in a sitting position with your back straight and your thighs perpendicular to the waters surface. You try to keep this position while just moving your arms and rotating your legs from the knees down.

Try it! It’s also a great workout for just relaxing by the pool with friends! (And it’s still a fun contest to partake in...especially with younger siblings because you’ll probably win!).

-Ashley Johncola