BOGA Fitmat: Yoga on the water

Who doesn’t get bored with the same old workout routine? If you are like most of us, then you are always trying to find a new workout trend that will keep you excited about going to the gym. If that is the case, then consider taking this fun, new water-based fitness class, BOGA Fitmat.

The BOGA FITMAT is a mat that floats on top of the water and allows you to get a full body workout on an unstable surface. The workout combines cardio and strength training exercises, as well as Pilates and yoga-oriented movements.

Benefits of BOGA Fitmat

BOGA Fitmat provides a unique, unstable environment which encourages participants to engage core muscles and improve balance while sitting, kneeling or standing on an inflatable board larger than a yoga mat.

BOGA Fitmat provides a unique, unstable environment which encourages participants to engage core muscles and improve balance while sitting, kneeling or standing on an inflatable board larger than a yoga mat.

As if holding a plank on land isn’t hard enough, imagine holding yourself in a plank position on a board with the motion of the water. You will really feel the intensity of your core muscles engaging while the waves challenge each muscle in the body to keep you on the surface of the board.  

In addition, BOGA Fitmat may also help correct performance imbalances, such as standing, walking or squats, and teach participants to relearn basic movements that will help the body move with more equal force on both sides of the body.

What to Expect in a BOGA Fitmat Class

The classes are approximately an hour long and are in small groups of 9.  The recommended attire is athletic clothing — not swimsuits — since you are on top of the water for the duration of the class.

At Baylor Tom Landry Health and Wellness Center, some of the instructors bring their exercise backgrounds and create new workouts on the mat to challenge the more advanced clients by incorporating pilates, hula hoops, jump ropes, medicine balls, and resistance bands.

You should expect to be challenged not only in your abdominal muscles but also in a cardiovascular manner, with exercises like lunges and burpees that keep your heart rate up. 

Also, don’t be afraid of falling in. If you do, that is ok, but trying to stay out of the water can be the fun part!

For more information on the BOGA Fitmat classes offered at the Baylor Tom Landry Health and Wellness Center, please call 214.820.7872 to speak with a membership representative or visit LandryFitness.com for the current class schedule.