A water aerobics class typically lasts an hour. An instructor will lead you through a series of moves, often set to music to keep you motivated.

Each water aerobics class includes a warm-up, cardio and strength-training exercises, and a cooldown. Expect exercises like water walking, bicep curls, leg lifts, and kickboard moves. You won't be swimming, and most water workouts are done in the shallow end of the pool.

The buoyancy of the water is easy on your joints. That makes water aerobics a good choice if you have joint problems, chronic pain, or are recovering from injury. It's also popular among seniors and pregnant women.

Though it's low-impact, you can make the workout harder. For example, do more repetitions of each move or go faster during the workout. An advanced class might include underwater interval training.