Here are some known benefits to swimming!
1. It’s kind to your joints and improves flexibility: “Swimming is a form of exercise that’s suitable to people of all ages because it’s so easy on the joints,” The water supports the body so only a fraction of your weight has to be supported by your limbs. It also favours smooth circular movements rather than quick jerky movements that can strain joints.”
2. Helps you lose weight: Swimming for half an hour can burn as much as 250 calories. Even a gentle swim can burn 200 calories. Since water is about 800 times denser than air, your body has to work harder in the pool, even though it might not feel like it is. Gliding through the water can be a glorious feeling.
3. Improves mental health: Swimming promotes feelings of well being, something the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirms. “For people with fibromyalgia [who frequently experience anxiety and depression] it can decrease anxiety, and exercise therapy in warm water can decrease depression and improve mood.”
4. It’s a great aerobic exercise: Swimming increases your lung capacity and gives them a solid work-out. It’s also been identified as a good form of exercise for people with asthma.
5. Choose where you want to tone up: Since swimming involves a variety of strokes that use different muscles, you can target the areas you most want to tone – be it legs, upper arms, or stomach muscles.
6. It’s cheap: Unlike some sports which require a lot of equipment, swimming just requires a swim suit, bathing cap and a pair of decent goggles and of course a pool, which most cities and mid-size communities have. It’s also a great summer exercise since you can cool down and work out at the same time.
7. Suitable for all ages: That’s why they say swimming is ‘cradle to grave.’ You simply adjust the pace to your age and ability.
8. It’s social: “If you swim regularly you’ll most likely make new friends of all ages,” , since people not only swim at the pool but also like to relax, socialize and talk. My impression is that swimmers are usually positive and in a good mood.”
If you aren’t already a swimmer, but think you might like to start, first check with your doctor to make sure there aren’t any health issues to take into account. You might even want to enroll in Jollyswim lessons. An instructor can not only help build swimming skills, but alleviate any fears you might have about the water.
“Take it slow in the beginning and progress at your own pace,” Don’t try to measure up to a 20-year-old speeding through the water. Instead, enjoy the experience of swimming – of floating and moving through the water.”
