Traditional exercises can sometimes start to feel mundane and repetitive, especially for our little ones who can view exercise as a chore. Most people don’t notice the amount of effort it takes to push yourself through the water because swimming is so low impact, but let us remind you, swimming is an incredible way to stay in shape. Swimming is also a great way to break your “normal” routine and to get an incredible, full-body workout while you stay cool. Although you’re sure to break a sweat, you might not even notice! If you’re still not convinced swimming is worth adding into your exercise routine during the warmer months, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 health benefits of swimming to inspire and motivate you to make a big splash on your next workout.
What to Bring On Your Next Swimming Trip
- Plenty of sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Water
- Towels
- Flip flops or water shoes
- Swimming goggles
- Life vests for younger members of the family
- Fresh fruit
- Pool toys
Make it a routine
Remember, in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, adults should aim for at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity every day. Swimming can be one of the most enjoyable forms of exercise, especially when temperatures rise and the sun is beaming. Try to incorporate swimming into your exercise routine by heading to your nearest pool at least once a week. Your body will thank you!
Health benefits of swimming:
- Full Body Workout – Swimming works your entire body, including your heart and lungs. The resistance of the water, tones, builds & strengthens your core, arms and legs. Even your wrists and ankles have to engage to act like fins in order to move you through the water.
- Burns Calories FAST – Swimming is a calorie torcher! A 140 pound person can expect to burn about 500 to 600 calories per hour. While a 200 pound person can expect to burn between 600 to 900 calories, which is equal to OR EVEN MORE calories than jogging alone.
- Low Impact Exercise – Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for people with limitations, injuries, or arthritis who don’t traditionally respond very well to higher impact forms of exercise. Swimming has long been used as a rehabilitation method, may help improve your pain levels, and increase your recovery response to injuries.
- Sleep Better – Swimming can improve your sleep quality and boost your mood. Since swimming requires every single muscle working in unison, you are going to be tired after your time in the pool, and ready for deep sleep at the end of the day. In addition, the endorphins released during and after exercise can help lift your mood and make you feel happy.
- Kids Love Swimming! – Swimming is great for kids! Children need about 60 minutes of aerobic activity per day. Swimming is great, because it doesn’t feel like work but it does give them a great amount of exercise. As parents, all we need to do is remember to keep them hydrated, make sure they’re wearing safety vests when needed, and wearing plenty of sunscreen. We want this summer to be very enjoyable, for you to feel safe, and feel good about you and your kids getting plenty of exercise.
We hope these health benefits inspire you to take a trip down to your neighborhood pool, the lake, or anywhere else you can make a splash! Tune in next time for more health and wellness tips.
References
Hansen, Sarah. “10 Amazing Benefits of Swimming You Never Knew.” Lifehack, Lifehack, 3 Sept. 2018, www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/ten-benefits-swimming-you-may-not-know-about.html.