The Benefits of Swimming are numerous and well-documented, but some of us still haven’t taken the plunge and added a few laps to our workout routine. Maybe we need a gentle reminder of a few of the benefits of swimming to change our minds! I’ve done some digging, and chatted with my personal trainer, and he had some advice tips to share. Here are 9 awesome benefits of swimming.
1. IT’S PERFECT FOR PEOPLE WITH BALANCE ISSUES
If you’ve ever suffered from vertigo, you know how debilitating it can be when you’re trying to exercise. Not so with swimming! Your balance won’t be an issue in the water, unless it’s caused by an inner ear infection. If so, be sure to use ear-plugs, then dive right in!
2. IT WON’T HURT YOUR JOINTS
One of the key benefits of swimming is that it’s low-impact, which means it won’t hurt or harm your joints. This is particularly helpful for people who suffer from back pain or arthritis, since getting better and combating and preventing pain often mean exercise. Swimming’s perfect!
3. IT’S GREAT FOR YOUR HEART
Swimming is also an excellent source of cardio exercise, since it keeps your heart thumping without (as mentioned above) the stress on your joints. Marvelous!
4. IT’S A WHOLE-BODY APPROACH
Even aside from the cardio, swimming is great for an entire-body workout, one that falls into the category of “non weight-bearing.” It helps build muscle tone and flexibility.
5. YOU CAN DO IT YEAR-ROUND
When most of us think of swimming, we think of outdoors in a lake. But another benefit of swimming is that you can actually do it year-round… most communities have an indoor pool you can use.
6. IT’S INEXPENSIVE
Joining a swim club or signing up for swim aerobics classes is often less expensive even that a gym membership, so even if you’re on a budget, you can still reap the many benefits of swimming. To join the pool at my local school, it’s only $12 a month. That’s only about 30 cents a day!
7. IT’S RELAXING
Swimming can be relaxing. It’s rhythmic, and the sound of the water is beautiful. I find that often, even when I’m stressed, the rhythm of the strokes and the sound of the water can calm my nerves, help me shut out the world.
8. YOU CAN WORKOUT WITH YOUR FAMILY!
I hate paying my gym to watch my daughter while I work out, but it’s a necessary evil. However, I don’t have to pay anyone to watch her while I swim because she can swim with me! I’m always very careful to make sure I’m paying close attention to her… and we love it!
9. IT’S FUN!
If for no other reason, swimming in beneficial because it’s fun. How often do grown adults have the chance to splash each other and instigate a water fight?
Swimming is fantastic! Now that you’ve seen all of these incredible benefits of swimming, will you give it a try? Why or why not?
