Swimming is one of the most popular sports. Our nation is surrounded by water and swimming is one of our great passions.
As well as being fun, swimming is a great way to keep fit, stay healthy and make friend.
It is a healthy activity that you can continue for a lifetime. It is a low-impact activity that has many physical and mental health benefits.
Swimming is a great recreational activity for people of all ages. Recreational swimming can provide you with a low-impact workout and it’s a good way to relax and feel good. Common swimming styles in recreational swimming are Breaststroke, backstroke, sidestroke and freestyle.
Competitive Swimming
Some people who enjoy swimming want to take it to a competitive level. This can provide the health benefits of a vigorous workout as well as the fun and thrill of competition.
Health Benefits Of Swimming:
- Swimming is a great workout because you need to move your whole body against the resistance of the water.
- Swimming is a good all-round activity because it keeps your heart rate up but takes some of the impact stress off your body
- Builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness
- Helps you maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart and lungs
- Tones muscles and builds strength provides an all-over body workout, as nearly all of your muscles are used during swimming.
We’ve all gazed in slack-jawed admiration at the bodies of Olympic swimmers. While a few laps of the local lido every week is unlikely to result in equivalent changes to your torso, swimming will quickly make muscles all over your body bigger and stronger.
Some people have body types where they pack muscle on quicker than others, but you have to swim a lot of miles to significantly change your shape and bulk up. But what you will find is that swimming strengthens muscles from top to bottom quite quickly.
- Most people who yearn to stay in shape make an effort to do some form of cardiovascular training three to five times a week for 20 minutes or more per session. With that in mind, anyone looking to swim for fitness should be able to swim at least 20 minutes at a time, several times a week.
- Also, Swimming in the salty waters of the sea helps the skin stay moist and helps in detoxification. It also promotes the growth of new skin cells. Your skin will feel smooth and healthy.
- Being a relaxing and peaceful form of exercise.
- Alleviating stress.
- Improving coordination, balance and posture.
- Improving flexibility
While swimming won’t stretch you as effectively as yoga or Pilates, the range of motion involved in swimming lengthens the muscles in a way that can make your joints more flexible and help recovery.
- Providing good low-impact therapy for some injuries and conditions.
- Providing a pleasant way to cool down on a hot day.
- Swimming release endorphins, a hormone in your brain that simply makes you feel good. Endorphins are what increase positivity and bring a sense of happiness.
- It Will Help You Lose Weight
Due to the weight-bearing properties of the pool, swimming serves as an excellent way for overweight people to work out without straining their body. It might not burn calories quickly as some other, more intense, workouts, but it will get the job done in terms of weight loss.
If your goal is to lose weight then swimming is going to help because you’re raising your heart rate.
- It is easy on the joints
Swimming does not put excess strain on a person’s joints. So, a person with arthritis or a joint injury may find swimming a suitable exercise, as the buoyancy of water reduces stress on weight bearing joints.
- It is good for people with disabilities. Having a physical disability such as paraplegia can limit or eliminate some workout options.
People with a physical disability may find that swimming is an ideal exercise because water provides resistance and support.
- It is safe during pregnancy Swimming is a recommended form of exercise for pregnant people.
Added weight can cause joint and muscle pain during pregnancy. Swimming is especially popular with pregnant people because the water can support this weight.
However, it is always a good idea to consult a doctor when trying a new form of activity during pregnancy.
- It improves multiple sclerosis symptoms Water keeps the limbs buoyant, so people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may benefit from the support and gentle resistance that water provides.
- It is suitable for all ages and fitness levels Some types of exercise may be challenging for people who are new to it or who feel very unfit. However, swimming allows a person to go at their own pace, and it can be inviting for newcomers to exercise.
A person can learn to swim at a very young age, and most swimming pools have a designated area for beginners and people who prefer to swim slowly.
Note:
Being available in many places – you can swim in swimming pools, beaches, lakes, dams and rivers. Make sure that the environment you choose to swim in is safe.
Getting started in swimming is easy. It is a sport for all age groups, skill and fitness levels. Before you get started, you will need to purchase a pair of swimmers and some goggles.
There are public pools throughout that are open to everyone. Entry to public pools is inexpensive and many aquatic centres offer swimming lessons for people of all ages, as well as training and exercise groups.
The afternoon is one of the most popular times to swim because the water is warm and most people have finished work or school for the day. Some advantages of afternoon swimming are as follows. The water is warmer: By the afternoon, outdoor water has had more time to warm in the sun, making it more comfortable to swim.
Some Tips For Swimming
Before you dive in:
- Make sure you know how to swim.
- Choose a safe environment and ensure the water safety of children.
- Warm up and stretch your muscles and joints before entering the water.
- Have plenty of fluids on hand and drink regularly.
- Don’t overdo it if you’re just starting out.
- See your doctor if you haven’t exercised for a long time.
