There is no doubt that sport is health. Performing physical activities on a regular basis and having a balanced diet are the pillars of a healthy life. They reduce the risk of disease and feed emotional health.
And in this field of sports practice, swimming is one of the activities with the greatest resistance, because it forces you to move constantly to stay afloat and move forward. So if you can withstand an hour long in the pool, you can withstand anything. Few exercises are as complete and fun as swimming. It not only combines physical and mental development, but also adapts to different fitness levels and ages.
In addition, swimming is essential learning for children, because it contributes to the development of their independence and self-confidence. And it is a very useful life tool in case of need.
If you are still not completely convinced by these benefits of swimming , here we share the main benefits of this activity:
Boost mental and emotional health
The oxygen you use to swim activates your brain and releases toxins. What’s more, by concentrating on your breath, your body relaxes and the feeling of stress is reduced. That injection of endorphins, the pleasure hormone, also reduces your anxiety levels and improves your mood. In short, it increases your sense of well-being.
Read to know about lifeguard requirements which need be a certified lifeguard.
It is a complete exercise
Swimming uses two-thirds of the muscles in the body, building strength and stamina. In addition, it wears the joints less than other sports practices, because the body, being floating, does not receive the impact of hard surfaces. If you practice crawl or back, you fundamentally tone biceps, triceps, deltoids, glutes, intercostals, abdominals and pectorals. If you opt for the breaststroke or butterfly, then you will work more of the pectorals, deltoids, upper biceps , and lower quadriceps and hamstrings .
Improves the respiratory and cardiovascular system
When swimming, you consume up to 10% more oxygen and your heart pumps up to 18% more blood. This means enjoying better blood circulation, since heart rate decreases and you gain an increase in cardiorespiratory resistance. Trust me, your lungs and heart will thank you.
It is a proven fat burner
In optimal conditions, and depending on the intensity in which it is practiced, with swimming you can burn between 500 and 600 calories per hour of practice. If you are looking to lose weight, add this exercise to your routine.
Increase flexibility
Swimming uses the upper and lower train of your body. This makes the joints more flexible and tones the muscles more , especially those of the back. Therefore, it is a highly recommended exercise if you suffer from bad posture, back pain, scoliosis or hernia problems. It is also indicated for patients with asthma.
Key to the development of children
It is important to start children early in the world of swimming so that they lose their fear of water and are safer. With this knowledge, they will know how to function and have no problems in two very popular places in our country: the sea and the pool.
Aerobic exercise suitable for everyone
Swimming has no age barriers. One of its advantages is that it is an ideal activity for population groups with certain conditions, such as the elderly, babies and pregnant women. The important thing is to choose the practice that best suits us, according to medical criteria.
Beyond swimming
You have to choose the style that best suits what you need, such as front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke or butterfly, and you can also integrate sessions that go beyond swimming so you don’t get bored. In recent years, aqua gym or aqua biking (spinning in the water) have gained relevance and preference in swimming pools, for example: both are fun aerobic exercise modalities that you can combine in your routine.
Also read about: SWIMMING – 10 BENEFITS EXPLAINED IN A WAY EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND