What is a common mistake for new participants in Aqua Fitness?

New participants in Aqua Fitness often make the mistake of expecting the same intensity as land-based exercises. This misconception arises because participants may not be familiar with how water's buoyancy and resistance can affect their workout. Water provides both support and resistance, allowing movements that might feel less intense on land to actually engage muscles differently and can sometimes be more challenging than expected.

In fact, the resistance of water is about 12 times greater than that of air, which can lead to a more intense workout when the movements are properly executed. Furthermore, the cooling properties of water may make participants feel as though they are exerting less effort, even when they are working hard, which can create an illusion of a less intense workout. It's crucial for newcomers to understand how to adjust their efforts in an aquatic environment to match or even exceed the intensity of similar dry-land activities.