When you exercise in the water, you still get all the same benefits as exercising on land — you increase your cardiovascular stamina, strength, and flexibility — only you are not putting stress on your joints. The water helps support your body, so it provides a low-impact workout that has all the pluses and none of the minuses of exercising on land. The right exercises can even have you burning more calories per hour, making it a great way to help control your weight. Additionally, it might be the only exercises that your doctor approves if you are recovering from an injury or an illness.