For most people, buying a new swimming pool is the result of a desire to add some much-needed leisure to their lives, but here at Sunset Pools & Spas, we often tell our customers that pools aren’t just for laying back and relaxing outside under the glow of the sun. They also can be terrific home exercise tools, helping pool owners to burn fat, stay toned, and lose weight through the practice of some really simple pool exercises.

The following are five of our favorite easy pool exercises, all of which are possible in the comfort of your very own backyard:

Water Running (or Walking)

If you ever have tried to walk or run laps around your pool, you know how much resistance the water can provide. This is a high-intensity cardio workout when done correctly, but it’s also low-impact because it takes all of the weight off of your knees, hips, and ankles. Some people call this “aqua jogging,” but the idea is the same. You can burn a lot of calories in your pool with this water workout just by walking or jogging in your pool.

Bicycle Kicks

There are a couple of ways to do bicycle kick exercises in the pool. The first involves resting your arms on the side of the pool behind you and using your legs to keep your body afloat through circular kicks in the motion of riding a bicycle. You also can turn a pool noodle into a crucial piece of pool exercise equipment by straddling the noodle, arms to your side, and bicycle kicking that way

Core Toners

If you want to work on your leg and core muscles, consider this exercise, which has you place your back flat against the pool wall, your arms extended backwards holding the edge of the pool. Then, you lift your straight legs in front of you, open them into a “V” and close them again. Repeat this as many times as your legs will allow, but try to complete them in sets of 20. Your legs and abs will thank you!

Water Crunches

Another great ab exercise is the pool equivalent of a sit-up. Drape your knees over the edge of the pool as you float on your back in the water, then try to pull your upper body as far out of the water as you can. Give yourself extra resistance by lowering yourself slowly back into the water. Repeat these in sets of 20, as well.

Swim Laps

Depending on the size of your pool, just swimming continuously for any period of time will burn calories, get your heart rate up, and really work the muscles in your arms. It won’t take long for this simple workout to wear you down, but if you’ve got that pool in your backyard, why not use it to tone up a little bit this summer? Swimming laps is one of the easiest ways to do that.

Here at Sunset Pools & Spas, we can help you get the pool of your dreams, not just for soaking in the sun but for staying fit. These swimming pool exercises can help a lot with that and hopefully keep you happy, healthy, and feeling great all summer long!

Whether you’ve already got a pool in your backyard or not, there is a good chance that the area behind your home is being drastically underused. While getting a pool installed is a great first step, building a true backyard oasis around that centerpiece is something that really could transform the space completely.

Here at Sunset Pools & Spas, we obviously can help with the swimming pool and/or hot tub, but if you want to take your backyard to the next level, consider hiring our designers and landscapers to add the following backyard oasis ideas as a means of spicing up your outdoor spaces around that swimming pool and deck:

Privacy

One of the first things a landscape designer will tell you when redesigning your backyard is that a little privacy goes a long way. It is much easier to relax in backyard pools and living spaces when there is no fear of snoopy neighbors looking on. Adding fences or garden walls are great for patios, as are lattices, pergolas, or even tall landscaping features. Any or all of these provide you with increased privacy.

Shade

Certain privacy features, like the pergola, can provide shade, but even just installing certain features under existing trees or investing in shade umbrellas can do the same thing. Having the pool in the sunshine is great, but in the hot afternoon during cookouts, you and your family may appreciate a cooler area to sit and eat.

Comfortable Patio Furniture

Avoid cheap, plastic patio furniture and instead opt for something classier, more comfortable, and more resilient. Wrought iron and cast iron are great-looking, durable options, as are all different colors and types of woods. There even is new synthetic material available for pillows and cushions that make outdoor furniture more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing than ever.

Fire Pit

Enjoy your outdoor living space in the evenings with a fire pit, which can be both attractive and warm. It also can help keep bugs away and provide the perfect spot for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs.

Outdoor Kitchen

More complex cooking needs can be serviced by designing and constructing an outdoor kitchen customized to your space. Depending on the complexity of the kitchen, these can include a grill, a stovetop, and even an oven, all of which combine to cook your food in great weather right alongside your pool. What better way to improve a living space than by adding fine grilled cuisines?

Water Features

Not only does a water feature look great in or around your pool, but the soft trickle of water adds a certain aural ambiance to your backyard oasis, as well. We have several different options for water features that can work in your pool or patio space, but all of them look great and function beautifully in the context of your pool.

Here at Sunset Pools and Spas, we do much more than just install pools. If you need any help with backyard design, outdoor living, landscaping, or deck and patio enhancements this year, please contact us and we will be happy to help turn your backyard pool into a true oasis!

 

The weather has started to get warm, and the school year is starting to wind down, both of which mean the onset of swimming pool season is upon us. It’s just about time to reverse all that winterizing to get your pool ready for summer. Doing so is incredibly easy as long as you follow these five easy steps to open your pool this season:

#1 Remove the Pool Cover

First and foremost, you will need to remove the pool cover from your pool, which isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds. If you’ve got a winter cover or a solid safety cover, you’ll want to drain as much water from it as possible, then recruit some help to pull the heavy cover off the pool completely. Make sure you clean it and dry it properly before storing it for the summer to avoid any mold or damage that may force you to replace it come fall.

#2 Raise the Water Level

All pools have a recommended water level, so once the cover has been removed, you’ll want to check your water level to make sure you’ve got enough in the pool. This really is as simple as dragging over the garden hose and letting it run until the level is right around the middle of the skimmer opening or halfway up the tile.

#3 Reconnect Pool Equipment

You likely disconnected several different pool components as part of the winterizing process back in the fall, so now is the time to put everything back together. Your pool filter, pool heater, drain plugs, and return valve fittings all will need to be connected the way they were last summer to ensure proper pool maintenance and function this summer.

#4 Consider a Professional Pool Cleaning

Here at Sunset Pools & Spas, we employ professionals capable of ensuring your pool is properly and professionally cleaned ahead of this summer’s swimming season. Not everybody opts for swimming pool cleaning services, but it can have a massive impact on the quality of your pool, as it removes mold and stains thus giving you and your family a clean slate for the summer that lies ahead.

#5 Check the Chemistry

Finally, before sending anyone into the pool to cool off this summer, you will need to check the pH level of your water and add chemicals as needed. Do this after the circulation system has been given the opportunity to run for several hours, at which point you will need to check the pH (which should land between 7.4 and 7.6), Total Alkalinity (which should settle between 80 and 120 ppm), and Chlorine (which should fall between 2.0 to 4.0 ppm).

If you need any help with any step in this process, give us a call here at Sunset Pools & Spas, and we will be happy to help you open your pool. Getting swimming pools open for the summer is so exciting and incredibly fun, but opening them properly is key to keeping them running smoothly for the next several months. Good luck opening your pool, and here’s to another great summer filled with swimming fun!