No matter if you are just starting to get fit or have been exercising for years, swimming is a fantastic workout that can be tailored to your own level. You not only get a full body workout but swimming can let off steam after a long day, help slow down the ticking clock that is ageing and get a better night’s sleep! So what are you waiting for jump in the pool!
Gives you a full body workout
Swimming is a great physical activity as it uses all of your muscles in your body and exercising in water makes your body work even harder. Swimming strengthens your muscles from head to toe very quickly, working your core, legs and upper body. It uses often-neglected muscles that you wouldn’t target otherwise if you were running on the treadmill or if you were on an exercise bike. It also builds up your strength and endurance.
Swimming is good for your heart
Swimming is great for improving your cardiovascular system; it can help heart contractions, decrease blood pressure, lower your heart rate, reduce cholesterol levels and improve lung efficiency. Swimmers should aim to do 150 minutes of exercise each week to truly benefit from the results; however, you can work up to this and should try to rest between laps to begin with. Swimming puts less pressure on your heart than other sports like running, meaning your heart rate won’t go up as much and it allows your body to perform even greater levels of work.
Gives your lungs a workout
Swimming is great for your lungs, especially those who suffer from asthma as your body adapts to using oxygen more efficiently when your face is under water and helps you gain control over your breathing. It forces you to take in more fresh air and expel more carbon dioxide with every exhalation. Asthma sufferers often struggle with sports as the loss of heat and moisture in the bronchial tubes cause the tubes to contract, which happens when the outside air is dry/cold. Swimming is good for asthma sufferers as the moisture from the water replace the moisture lost during excessive breathing.
Swimming burns lots of calories
Did you know that swimming laps around a pool burns more calories than running laps for an hour? An hour of constant swimming can burn as much as 715 calories as opposed to running at 5mph for an hour, which only burns 606 calories. Swimming is one of the best ways to burn more calories and you will be burning of that cheat day in no time.
Lowers stress levels
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and shows that people who regularly workout benefit from a positive mood boost. Physical activity creates a huge endorphin rush bringing lots of feel good emotions, which is often called runners high. Swimming can also bring on all of these happy feelings and a better sense of wellbeing. You can also experience a relaxation sensation as your body is constantly being stretched and combined with deep rhythmic breathing; you can feel a relaxation and calming rush. Swimming can help distract you from the outside world as you are immersed in the sound of the peaceful water, thus lowering your stress level in the process.
Slows down ageing
Nothing will ever be able to stop ageing or help you live forever, but swimming can slow down the effects of ageing. This can be done by reducing blood pressure, increasing muscle mass, improving oxygen and blood flow to the brain, and increasing cardiovascular health. You don’t have to have the endurance of an Olympic swimmer to benefit from swimming, that’s the great thing about it as it accommodates all ages, stages and disabilities.
Improves your sleep
Struggling to get some shut eye? Research has shown that people who are physically active will have a better quality of sleep. Simply exercising three times a week for at least 20 minutes will have a distinct impact on not only your health but sleep cycle too. Physical activities like swimming are more effect as it gets your heart pumping, whilst also relaxing your body and mind helping you to sleep.
