Many people think of swimming as a leisurely activity that goes hand-in-hand with a relaxing vacation on a sunny beach and a tall, fruity drink in your hand. While that is true, swimming is also one of the best full-body workouts you can do. Swimming is a gentle, low-impact workout that will tone your body while calming your mind.
If you have been considering swimming for exercise, here are 7 health benefits you should know.
1. Swimming Helps Manage Exercise-Induced Asthma
Exercise-induced asthma is a condition in which certain types of exercise cause your airways to narrow, resulting in chest pain, shortness of breath and other asthmatic symptoms. Swimming helps with exercise-induced asthma by increasing lung capacity, improving the condition of the lungs and improving breath control.
Even swimming for 30 minutes regularly will help manage the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.
2. Swimming Promotes Longevity
A 30-year study found that participants who were swimmers were 50% less likely to die than other participants who either did not exercise at all or exercised by walking and running.
3. Swimming Is a Full-Body Workout
Swimming is an all-in-one workout that builds strength while improving your cardiovascular health. You will train underworked muscles that are not targeted with other types of resistance training.
Unlike other workouts, with swimming, you don’t need any special equipment. All you need for a great workout is yourself, a pool, and a quality wetsuit. If you don’t have a quality wetsuit, look online for wetsuit reviews to find the perfect fit.
4. Swimming Is Gentle for People With Physical Limitations
Swimming as a workout is gentle and low-impact so it can be done by anyone, regardless of physical limitations. This workout is also ideal for every fitness level and is great for seniors.
You can swim through:
- Pregnancy: swimming is a recommended exercise for expectant mothers
- Injuries: swimming puts less pressure on your joints and bones than other resistance workouts
- Physical disabilities: the buoyant water allows you to move without needing assistance
Swimming also improves flexibility and prevents sprains, breaks, and sore joints caused by other types of exercise.
5. Swimming Reduces Stress
When you exercise, feel-good endorphins are released into the body, causing feelings of happiness and reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Swimming offers an additional mood booster because of the powerful effect that water has on your brain.
6. Swimming Increases Blood Flow To The Brain
A quick 30-minute swimming workout can increase blood flow to the brain, which reduces your risk of developing several health issues, including hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and memory loss.
7. Swimming Builds Endurance
Many fitness experts consider swimming to be similar to running, spinning, or cycling in terms of building endurance, but without the wear and tear on your body. Swimming naturally builds endurance because your body does not stop moving while you are in the water.
Health Benefits of Swimming for Exercise: The Bottom Line
There are many health benefits you’ll experience when swimming for exercise. The next time you have the opportunity to take a swimming fitness class, give it a try!
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