With the summer months ahead a lot of you might decide to cool off by taking a dip in the nearby swimming pool. Apart from being the best way to beat the heat, swimming is also a very good way to stay fit. Here are some of the benefits of swimming.
Do more with less:
One advantage of swimming is that it gives your body a chance to exercise without being harsh on the bones. Ideally with water up to your neck you only have to bear 10% of your body’s weight and the rest is borne by the water. Therefore the pool is an ideal place to work stiff muscles and sore joints. This is one of the main reasons why it is suggested to people who are overweight or suffering from artiritis.
Better muscle tone and strength
Compared to other aerobic exercises swimming is one of the better ways to tone your muscles. For example, when you run your body is only cutting through air, but in the case of swimming you body is moving through a sustance which is much heavier. This makes every kick and stroke a resistance exercise, and it is commong knowledge that resistance exercises improve muscle strength and toning.
Improved flexibilty
Unlike a lot of other exercise, swimming enables a person to exercise the entire body. It puts the body through a broad range of motions which is good for ligaments and joints to stay loose and flexible. While your arms move in wide arcs, hips are engaged as the legs scissor through the water, and even the head and spine twist from side to side. To get the best out of this sport, do some light strecthes after you swim.
A healthier, happier heart
In addition to helping good muscle toning for quads, triceps etc, swimming also benefits the heart. It helps the heart pump more blood which in turn leads to better blood flow through the entire body. Research also shows that 30 minutes in the pool helps reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
So what are you waiting for? You know the benefits of swimming, jump into a pool this summer. And if you are looking for any swimming gear, be it goggles or other accessories you can find them on .
