Do you know that swimming is the fourth most popular sport in the US? It’s also evident that people enjoy exercising on the water in addition to land. Aside from being a very fun activity, swimming actually provides countless health benefits.
But what happens if you live far from any water body? How do you exercise? Well, the solution lies in installing a swimming lap lane and use it for swim practice as often as possible. This can be an expensive investment but having one can do wonders to your overall health and wellness
Here are six reasons why swimming laps are among the most popular activities in the country.
Gives your Body a Complete Workout
Do you want to exercise your whole body, from head to toe? Do you want to strengthen all your muscle groups in your body? Swimming is your option.
Here you use your legs to kick through the water. The chest, shoulders, and arms will propel you forward. Your core keeps you steady as you turn or rotate to breathe.
But that’s not enough! The water gives a gentle resistance to exercise your muscles. The increasing heart rate helps build cardiovascular strength. Aside from these, swimming can also improve your lungs, making them stronger. Swimming is basically a complete package that benefits different areas of your body.
It’s Fun
It’s one of the reasons why people become swimmers. Yes, you’re not aquatic by nature. However, being in a pool gives you a strange but neat feeling.
Imagine being in the water, no shirt! No shoes! No socks! Amazing, right! You can’t do this anywhere else, not even on a treadmill.
Once you finish a swim lap, get out of the water, put your arms around the pool’s edge, and catch a breath. It’ll be like you’ve escaped a shark attack.
Swimming can also be a fun exercise as you’ll be able to meet a lot of people when you swim. If you plan to start your journey as a swimmer by using public swimming laps in your area, expect that you’ll surround yourself with people who are also passionate about swimming. Also, your social circle can increase if you choose to compete locally or internationally!
It’s Cool
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an expert or a novice, if you’re giving it your all, you’ll get tired.
Unlike in other forms of exercise, you’re in the water. You can’t sweat!
Being submerged in water up to your neck while swimming is addicting. Once you start it, there’s no turning back. You can’t even imagine exercising without a pool.
Many people like to work out but aren’t a fan of that greasy feeling they’re sweating. If you’re one of them, swimming can be the answer. Swimming is a great exercise that allows you to move all the muscles in your body without being drenched in sweat. When you’re on the water, all you can experience is a cool sensation, not the greasy feeling caused by sweating too much.
Ideal for People with Different Conditions
High-impact exercises don’t work for everyone. People with injury, disability, or arthritis can use swimming as a safe exercise option.
But why should you swim if you’re having any of these conditions?
Well, it’ll improve your recovery while reducing some of your pain. For instance, research studies show that people with arthritis report a significant reduction in joint pain and stiffness after engaging in activities like cycling and swimming.
Moreover, swimming can help heal injuries as this is a low-impact exercise that allows active stretching and functions as a cardio workout. Swimming can also build and condition muscles while minimizing impact. These are just some of the reasons why swimming is known to heal muscle sprains and strains.
Swimmers Live Longer
A study by the University of South Carolina reveals that swimmers have a 53% low mortality rate than sedentary men. They also have a lower mortality rate than 49% of the runners and 50% of the walkers.
Install a swim lap in your compound and enjoy a happy and healthy life for long.
Helps with Weight Loss
Do you want to lose weight? Swimming is your best exercise for this. It burns calories to a tune of 540 calories per hour. If you want to lose some belly fat, don’t worry because swimming regularly can also help. Doing some butterfly kicks and flutter kicks in the water can target your core, making it easy for you to lose excess weight around this area of the body.
However don’t forget that swimming increases your appetite. So you’ll need to burn more calories than you consume.
Conclusion
When talking about aerobic exercises, very few people think about swimming. That’s not right!
Swimming is among the best forms of exercise in existence. It exercises your entire body in a fun way, so find time during your busy week to swim. You’ll be surprised how addicting and fun this exercise is!