>Your muscular strength will increase as you move your body weight in a controlled manner through the exercises presented here. Muscular strength is important for lifting yourself and your gear before and after diving.
>The more repetitions you complete, the more your muscular endurance will improve, reducing muscles' recovery times. Rather than taking a breather after donning your gear, you'll be able to get right into the water.
>As you increase the speed of your movements and launch off the ground during the squat push, you will improve your power — the work you can do in a given period of time. Improved power is particularly beneficial in diving when climbing a ladder or entering or exiting the surf.
>Maintaining an elevated heart rate throughout the workout will improve cardiovascular endurance, which is how efficiently your heart and lungs deliver oxygen to the rest of the body. Interval training has been shown to be highly effective at improving cardiovascular efficiency. As you decrease the amount of rest time between sequences (toward a goal of no rest), you will increase cardiovascular endurance. This allows your body to operate at a lower percentage of its maximal capacity, leaving a greater reserve for any challenging conditions that arise.
>The exercises shown here have the added benefit of enhancing flexibility, one of the most frequently neglected components of fitness. In addition to improving your range of motion (ROM), added flexibility leads to a reduced risk of injury. In diving, flexibility comes into play while wriggling into a wetsuit, reaching for a tag line or untangling hoses.
>Interval training also burns calories. Your body is constantly working hard as specific muscle groups alternate between work and rest. When one group of muscles is actively working, other groups are recovering. This is a challenging workout without any breaks, but each sequence is only four minutes long with a 30-second calf stretch at the end for recovery.
>Note: To avoid an increased risk of decompression sickness, DAN® recommends that divers avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours after making a dive. Always make sure that you have medical clearance to exercise during your annual physical exam or following any changes in your state of health.
>Sequence (30 seconds each):
- Butt kicks (lower intensity)
- Squat push (higher intensity)
- High knees (lower intensity)
- Squat push (higher intensity)
- Frankensteins (lower intensity)
- Push-ups (higher intensity; slow)
- Mountain climbers (higher intensity; fast)
- Calf stretch (recovery)
- Repeat as you can.
- Butt kicks can be done in place or traveling across whatever space is available.
- Alternate trying to bring each heel all the way to your buttocks.
- Start at walking speed, and gradually increase speed without sacrificing ROM.
- Start with feet shoulder width apart, shoulders back and head up.
- Swing your arms back while sitting your buttocks back.
- When your thighs are nearly parallel to the ground, swing your arms forward and up while extending your hips, knees and ankles.
- Do not leave the ground at first; just get up onto your tiptoes.
- When and if your joints are comfortable, repeat, launching straight up off the ground.
- Lift your knee as high as it can go.
- Then, and only then, hug the knee toward your chest; alternate.
- Maintain an upright posture with chest and head up.
- Bring your right leg up to touch your left fingertips; alternate.
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- Start in plank position with hands under your shoulders.
- While keeping your spine in a neutral position (no sagging back or elevated buttocks), flex your elbows until your upper arms are horizontal to the ground.
- Don't worry if you can't get your arms all the way horizontal; you will get a little further with each workout.
- Start in plank position with hands directly under the shoulders as with the push-up.
- Bring your knee to your chest, placing your foot on the floor under your chest; alternate.
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- While supporting your weight on your hands in the mountain climber position, alternate pressing each heel toward the floor.
- The leg of the calf being stretched will support most of your weight during this exercise.
>© Alert Diver — Summer 2011