Swimming Fitness Benefits Everyone
Swimming fitness is for everyone, regardless of age or physical condition. My dad learned to do exercises in the swimming pool at 90. He’s now 93 and says water exercises have become a passion and have given him a new lease of life He’s proof that it’s never too late to get active. And,
Vulf (my dad’s name) has got his own rhythm. He likes to take his time. He takes it nice and easy. Vulf says, “I’m active because I like it. I’m not particularly health obsessed, I just like being active and keeping myself busy.”
If you’re looking for a full-body workout for cardiovascular health that’s easy on the joints, jump in the pool. Your arms, shoulders, and upper body will get stronger. Your thighs, hips and legs will get stronger and firmer. The greatest benefit will be your heart and lungs. You will eventually get a longer, leaner, and healthier body.
Swimming as a regular form of exercise can cut males’ risk of death by 50 percent as compared to runners, walkers and those with a sedentary lifestyle, according to a recent study by Dr. Steven N. Blair of the Arnold School for Public Health at the University of South Carolina. Blair found similar health and fitness benefits in an earlier study for women as well.
Swimming workout helps you to keep yourself fit and refreshing. It is basically a body exercise that tones your muscles, increases your blood circulation, and enhances your energy. You can also consider swimming pool workout as a way to increase you body flexibility and strength.
“You can swim your entire life, regardless of age, strength, or almost any physical handicap,” says Susan Ingraham, head coach of Masters of South Texas swimming group. “For people who are heavy, it’s a nice exercise because they’re buoyant in the water.”
If you want to be a good swimmer, you should work with water. More you work with water, the better it is. Propel with your hips, shoulders and abs in order to do better.
While you are doing swimming pool work out, you should have a better understanding about the unique properties of water. Basically, while you are in water, your body has no gravity at all. Because the human body is 90% water, its density is very similar to the density of water.
This is why you get a feeling of weightlessness when you’re swimming. It’s also why swimming is a great form of low-impact exercise, making it extremely popular with people who are elderly, pregnant, recovering from an injury, disabled or extremely overweight.
So you can easily float on water, in a completely relaxed mood without putting any extra effort at all. As air provides 12 percent to 14 percent less resistance than water, as you move about, you have more weight around you. So you have to keep moving while you are doing swimming pool work out.
Want to know more about swimming fitness?
Post a question or a comment below, please.
Yours truly for great health, mind and body,
Michelle, natural health advocate
September 17 2009 11:32 am | Fitness
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 am
Tanning season is on the way and I can’t wait to hit the ocean – that was a nice post, stop by for a visit when you can.
May 29th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it