From building incredible strength and endurance to alleviating stress and making you feel better all around, there’s no better exercise to partake in than going for a dip in the pool (or the ocean or a lake)
If you’re reading this, may already be an avid devotee to water sports. Perhaps you’ve swum competitively, or are a trained lifeguard. Or, like many others, your experience in swimming is nominal at best. Sure, you might splash around in the local pool with your kids on the weekend, or enjoy frolicking in the waves at the beach in the summertime. But outside of that, you know little about the countless benefits of swimming regularly.
Here are five great reasons why you should start swimming today:
Swimming builds serious muscle
Before I go any further, let me clarify that while swimming laps does build muscle, it isn’t the same as other forms of resistance training, namely lifting weights. The lean muscle you build through hitting the pool is caused by the resistance of the water.
The biggest added benefit to swimming is the fact that you can train as hard as you like (within reason, of course) with little strain on your bones and joints. That being said, if you want to increase muscle mass, it is highly recommended that you stick to a weekly strength training regimen in addition to your swimming workouts.
It’s cardio and strength training all rolled into one
I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a better exercise that combines resistance and endurance training. Running may give your legs a wicked workout (it’s also harder on your joints and back), but when you swim, you work every muscle in the body, chiefly your arms, legs, and shoulders. Furthermore, doing sprints up and down a 25 or 50 — meter pool is guaranteed to heighten your cardio levels and torch an insane amount of calories.
Your heart, lungs, and insides will thank you
According to a Harvard medical study, swimming does wonders for your insides, lowering your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and also lowers your body’s resting heart rate while giving your lungs a boost. As we age, many of us will experience issues related to our hearts, lungs, and vital organs. Need more reasons to take up swimming? Read on.
You’ll feel happier
In today’s modern, uber-crazily hectic world, it can be next to impossible to unwind and remove all stresses from your mind. Swimming for even as little as twenty minutes a few times a week can lessen your stress levels. How? Moving through the water lessens the sensory information that often overtakes our bodies and minds, bringing about feelings of tranquility and peace.
Open water swimming is thrilling
It doesn’t matter if you’re a regular lap swimmer or are new to the sport, if you happen to find your routine slightly mundane, get outside into the fresh with open-water swimming. Swimming in a lake or the ocean is a very unique albeit exciting experience that you simply cannot get in an indoor pool. Just a word of caution: ensure that your swimming and fitness levels are sufficient enough before hitting the open water. And always with a friend or group of friends.
Wrapping up
As you’ve learned, swimming is an awesome overall way of keeping your body fit both physically and mentally. If you’ve been hesitant about taking up swimming, there’s no better time like the present to start. See you in the pool.
References
Johansson, Anna. “You Can Build Muscle Mass Through Swimming.” STACK, 29 June 2020, www.stack.com/a/can-you-build-muscle-mass-through-swimming.
Publishing, Harvard Health. “Take the Plunge for Your Heart.” Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/take-the-plunge-for-your-heart.