Top 8 Benefits of Swimming

If you have been looking for a new sport or activity to try that will help you to improve your health and outlook on life, look no further than swimming. Here are eight reasons why you should start swimming today.

1. Low Impact Exercise

Swimming is an activity that doesn’t cause much stress or impact to the joints and muscles of the body. This makes it easier for you to do a variety of exercises in the water that would normally be too jarring to your body outside of the water, like running and jumping.

2. Better Endurance

Swimming forces you to strengthen your heart and lung muscles, which also increases your lung capacity. Swimming also enhances their performance and improves your overall stamina and endurance levels so that you can swim better and longer.

3. Burns Calories

Swimming is an activity that burns anywhere from 500 to 650 calories per hour. You burn more calories splashing around than you do by actually swimming. Anyone that is looking to lose a couple of pounds will be able to manage their weight by spending more time swimming.

4. Improved Muscle Tone and Strength

Since swimming requires you to push yourself through water which is denser than air, every move that you make is basically a resistance move. Resistance movements and exercises are great for building muscle tone and strength.

5. Increased Flexibility

Unlike other exercises that target a specific area of the body, swimming forces you to use all of the muscles in your body at the same time, thereby increasing your flexibility and range of motion. Each movement you make in the water stretches and lengthens your muscles.

6. Heart Healthy

Swimming increases the strength and size of the heart which improves its efficiency. People that engage in this activity on a regular basis, have a lower risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and experience increased blood circulation throughout the body.

7. Lowers Stress and Improves Moods

The act of stretching your muscles and relaxing them, in coordination with rhythmic breathing causes your brain to release “feel good” hormones that help to boost your mood and reduce stress.

8. Improves Longevity

Swimming is an activity that people of all ages can enjoy. People that suffer from mobility issues, old age, and health conditions such as arthritis, can benefit from this activity since it helps to reduce inflammation, arthritis flare-ups, and improve the movement and flexibility of the joints.

Now that you know why swimming is so important, the next thing for you to do is find a pool. If you do not have your own pool, many gyms and fitness centers have pools available for members and guests to use. Contact your local fitness center or gym to find out more about their swimming pool schedule.