Swimming is a relaxing activity that most people enjoy doing when they go on holiday to a warm beach resort, but swimming has lots of health benefits that most people are not aware of. It is a great way to keep yourself in shape and it can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Exercise
Taking up swimming as a workout is a good way to get fit. It is a great idea to either join a swimming class to perfect your swimming technique or to visit the pool a couple of times a week by yourself. Swimming is an all-over body workout where you will use all your muscles. This allows you to get a proper workout which you may not be able to get by yourself at the gym.
Tone your body
If your goal is to either lose weight or tone your muscles, then swimming is perfect for both goals. As mentioned above, swimming is an all-over body workout. Therefore, when you go swimming you use all of your muscles and use up a lot of your bodies calories. The number of calories burned during swimming depends on the persons weight and how fast they swim but it is possible to burn 400-600 calories per hour. This is a great way to lose weight and when you factor in the work your body does against the resistance of the water you will also be toning your muscles.
Relaxation
Swimming is also a very relaxing activity that makes you feel good and it is appropriate for people of all ages. At the end of a long day at work, it is a good way to alleviate stress and to allow your body to feel at ease in the water. Swimming is also beneficial because it makes you feel good and you are guaranteed to get a good night’s sleep after swimming as your body will most likely be tired.
Beneficial for joints
If you have recently suffered an injury or have a condition which effects your joints, then swimming is a good low-impact exercise as it is gentle on your joints and the water makes your body feel lighter which makes it feel “easier” to do and you will not put as much stress on your body. This is also why swimming and other water activities are beneficial for older people also.
To spend time together
Swimming also has a social benefit. You can go swimming with your family to the beach and make it a way to spend quality time together or you can meet new people at a swimming class and make new friends. Either way, swimming also has a social side to it and as humans are social creatures, it is important for us to spend time with other people.
Swimming is fun and a great way to get in shape, lose weight, tone your muscles, relax and to spend time with friends or family. It is beneficial to your body and your mind and can be enjoyed by children, adults and elders. It can be done in swimming pools, lakes, rivers and the sea but always make sure you are swimming in a safe place and don’t forget to enjoy the activity.
