10 Benefits of Swimming
Swimming can improve overall fitness, mental well-being and even make you look younger! With these contributing factors, we believe swimming really is the way forward. We may be biased due to our love of swimming, but with so many benefits we feel it is our duty to share these with you.
Swimming is a sport that many get into from a young age, but some of us are late bloomers and starting swimming as an adult can be a daunting task, however, when you learn about the benefits it can have on your mind and body, it is definitely something to tick off your bucket list if you haven’t already.
Here are our top 10 benefits of swimming:
- Weight management
This may not be your aim to start swimming, but like any exercise swimming is a great way of maintaining a healthy weight, it is a great form of cardio and acts as a full body workout, working all the muscles in the body focusing on specific areas depending on the stroke you do. Swimming is now also recognised as one of the biggest calorie burners around so it might be time to swap some of your gym sessions and hit the pool!
- Reduce stress
Swimming regularly can effectively help reduce stress levels and improve your overall mood! Even a light swim can help with your mental state with a recent study* showing that being submerged in water can help dull sensory information bringing on feelings of calm with the added benefit of exercise-induced endorphins, so all you need to do is get yourself to the pool and let the water and endorphins do the work!
*Study published in Pain & Research Management.
- Strengthen muscles
Whether you are suffering from an injury or looking to build muscle, swimming is a great way of working your core muscles and focusing on specific muscle groups to build and strengthen them. With water supporting 90% of your body weight this is the perfect exercise to recover from injury and with it being 44% more resistant than air you have to work harder to get through it, building your fitness levels up without the added stress on your body caused through joint impact.
- Improve sleep quality
Swimming helps to relax your body and mind making it easier to unwind and get to sleep. Regular swimming will also make you physically tired which will mean your body needs rest to recover and will help you get a deeper and more quality level of sleep.
- Lower risk of diseases
As well as being good for your overall health swimming can reduce the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke!
- Get smarter
Swimming has been found to improve oxygen and blood flow to the brain which helps to make you feel more alert, improves memory and overall cognitive function!
- Increase energy levels
Boost your metabolism and increase your energy levels with as little as 30 minutes of swimming three times a week.
- Build relationships
Swimming is a very social activity, whether you are taking classes or training together or meeting friends and family for a day out. Both children and adults can meet new people and build relationships through swimming, which in turn provides more motivation to continue!
- Improve overall fitness
Swimming works the full body, builds muscles, improves lung function and increases flexibility, all of which contribute to an all-round improvement of fitness levels which can be seen to boost performance in other exercise, such as running!
- Slow down aging
It has been proven that swimmers can shave off years, swimming reduces blood pressure, increases muscle, improves oxygen and blood flow and increases cardiovascular fitness, all contributing factors to keeping you looking (and feeling) young! Salt-water swimming can also act as a beauty treatment, helping skin retain moisture and detoxify to promote new cell growth.
If these tips have given you the boost you need to dig out your swimming costume and head down the pool check out our lessons and venues here
Happy Swimming!
