Benefits of Swimming

Most people have fond memories of swimming from their childhood. The pool is a fun place to relax and enjoy a good time. Those fond memories that you have from childhood can actually be a catalyst for a healthier lifestyle as an adult. Swimming has been considered by some to be the “perfect exercise”. This is because the health benefits are so great, nearly anyone can do it and there is very little strain placed on your body. It really is an optimal form of exercise.

Low-Impact Cardio

Everyone knows that cardio workouts are good for you. Studies have shown that cardio is far superior to weight training when it comes to losing weight. Regular cardiovascular exercise also helps to improve your overall heart function. It lets your heart pump blood more efficiently throughout your body even when you are not exercising.  The benefits of cardio workouts really are exceptional, but unfortunately, they also tend to put a lot of strain on your body. Running and biking, for example, put a lot of pressure and stress on your joints, particularly your knees and ankles. Swimming, on the other hand, does not. In fact, 90% of your body weight is supported by the water so the amount of force on your body while swimming is just a small fraction of what it is in other forms of exercise.

Full-Body Workout

In addition to being a great cardio workout, swimming works all of your muscle groups. There is a reason that people seek out a “swimmer’s body”. Their bodies look great because all of the muscle groups are engaged when you are swimming. That is simply not true in all cardio workouts. Running and biking, for instance, focus mainly on lower body muscle groups. While activities such as rowing focus mostly on upper body groups. Swimming engages your arms, shoulders, back, glutes, hamstrings, and legs. It can easily be adjusted to focus on particular muscle groups if you choose. For example, swimming the butterfly stroke will engage your back and upper body more. You could also use a kickboard and target your legs for a while. It really is an all-encompassing form of exercise.

Mood Booster

Swimming has been shown to boost your mood and reduce your stress level. A study that was conducted in the UK shows that after 4 months of regular swimming exercise participants showed a 35% increase in positivity. That’s right, swimming not only helps you physically, but it can improve how positive you feel about life in general. The study also showed that participants saw a 51% increase in energy levels. When you take time out of your day to swim, you are actually increasing the level of energy that you have for the rest of the day, which means that you can be even more productive.

Builds Endurance

Whether swimming is your sport, or you use it to cross train for other sports, swimming builds your endurance. Regularly swimming for at least 20 minutes increases your stamina for all types of exercise. Swimming improves the ability of your lungs to deliver oxygen to other parts of the body. Many people who perform in other sports still use swimming as a training tool. The reason being that it offers a different range of motion than other exercises and uses a different muscle group. So if you are training for a marathon, swimming would be a good exercise to use as part of your training because it will improve your lung capacity while working muscle groups that aren’t used while running. Swimming is a great tool to have in your endurance building toolbox.

Better Sleep

Finally, swimming actually promotes a better night’s sleep. It is true that any form of regular exercise, even mild exercise, for at least 20 minutes a day will promote a better night’s sleep. However, swimming does have added advantages for sleep that some others don’t. For example, swimming is done in a horizontal position which takes the strain off of your back and shoulders. This allows the tension that builds up in those areas to ease so you can sleep more comfortably. Swimming also uses very repetitive motion and controlled breathing, sending your body into a meditative-like state. All of these things help to set your body up for restful, restorative sleep.

If you haven’t tried swimming for exercise, what are you waiting for? The benefits are totally worth it and with an Endless Pools swim spa right in your own backyard the drawbacks are virtually nonexistent. Check out our line of Endless Pools swim spas and start planning for a healthier lifestyle now.

LIMELIGHT OWNER'S MANUALS

The 2019 Limelight Collection Owner’s Manual will help you understand your spa’s features, and answer questions you might have regarding spa operation, water care, and maintenance. There is also a troubleshooting section included for your convenience.  

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