Exercise Equipment:
Treading Water - Why Swimming Makes for a Great Workout
by Ainuddin Mohamad
Remember the days when summer was almost near, and you couldn’t wait to go out
and swim a little when you were a child? Maybe though you never learned how to
swim, and don’t realize the physical and emotional benefits of swimming.
Swimming is a lot of fun, and it’s the best exercise that you can do for your
health, in fact medical studies have proved it. Learn about some of the
benefits, and how swimming correctly can get you healthy, and emotionally
invigorated too.
Swimming has a lot of benefits that you might not realize. It gets your body
into shape by building up your muscle strength, and enables you to physically
keep going, or stamina. It has another great benefit too; it builds flexibility
for fluid motion. For the elderly or those with joint or muscular problems this
is a good way to exercise. The weight of the water provides resistance, but the
buoyancy gives support to your body, and it’s easier to exercise. Swimming will
allow you to build up your cardiovascular system too. Even if you don’t have any
serious health issues, it might be a good idea to check with your doctor anyway.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Another good thing about using swimming as an exercise routine is that you can
build up according to your schedule. You can start out with a gentle swim of
hand over hand, and then go up to harder routines, like the breaststroke.
However, be careful with using the breaststroke, if you have knee problems. This
movement in the water can pull the knee and ligaments out of balance. That’s
another reason that a good check up with your doctor is advisable. After you’ve
had enough time in the water, you could use water aerobics to enhance the
workout in the pool. Water aerobics get all of your large muscles moving, like
your upper thighs and arms. More importantly, it gets your heart rate up and
consistent when doing it in a synchronized pattern.
When you go and swim make sure to do it often. You don’t have to do a long
stretch of exercise in the water, but everyday or every other day is best. In
fact medical studies have shown that physically it’s better for you to swim for
shorter periods of time. By swimming for shorter periods you’ll also eliminate
boredom from routine. Of course, you can help with that mental aspect by
changing up your routines, only after you mastered the endurance level. 30
minutes of swimming is a good way to begin, and it will give you the maximum
benefits too. When going out to swim, take along a friend too, or swim in with a
group of people, it will keep you from giving up on getting fit.
To get the most out of your swimming, learn to swim in the right way by know the
techniques of it. Know how to do the doggie paddle, breaststroke and other types
of styles in swimming. If you don’t your just wasting energy, and you won’t get
the benefits you need. When you’re in the pool workout practicing on your
technique skills, so you’ll be a better swimmer. It doesn’t matter when you do
it, it’s really just a personal preference, but make sure to take the time to.
Don’t always do hard techniques, but switch it up with easy ones too. However
you do it, just make sure it flows from one routine to another.
Before going into the water to swim, go out and purchase the correct swim wear.
Wearing the incorrect clothing, like shorts and summer time shirts, will throw
off your entire swim routine. It might be a little intimidating at first,
stepping into the pool, especially if you’ve got a few pounds to loose, but that
is another reason you’re swimming, to get rid of that excess weight, and get
tone. For extra resistance, go into the pool, if allowed, with some flippers on.
Wearing flippers will help you learn what a correct body position is in water.
You want to swim with your head lower in the pool than your legs. If you don’t
this is how your legs sink, and you can’t get a full body workout, and the
benefits.
Keep practicing with improving your swimming skills, or even learning how to
swim. You’ll love the way you look and feel, and in the long run your body will
thank you for the needed exercise. It’s a lot of fun, and you can help others be
fit and trim by swimming with a partner. You might just make a new friend too.
About the Author
Ainuddin Mohamad is the Webmaster of
http://www.BestWebsites.com.my which is a Directory of Best Websites. Since
July 2000
BestWebsites.com.my has featured thousands of best websites in many
categories of interest with descriptions/reviews given by leading publications
and webmasters.
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