Swimming benefits the whole body and the whole person
Swimming benefits the body and the person as a whole. In fact, swimming has long been considered one of the most “perfect” sports due to its low injury rate and incredible benefits, regardless of one’s age or ability. When you exercise on land, there are many factors that work against you. First, you have to fight against the force of your full weight. Then, it puts pressure on your bones and joints, especially if you are overweight.
The buoyancy of the water acts as a protective shield around the body, removing any excess pressure on the bones, joints, and muscles. Swimming is one of the safest forms of exercise, especially if you have an injury, arthritis, a disability, or are pregnant or overweight.
Also, swimming benefits anyone trying to lose weight. When you swim, you burn calories at a rate of about 3 calories per mile per pound of body weight. So if you weigh 150 lbs. and you swim a mile in 30 minutes, then you will burn about 900 calories per hour. If you weigh 150 pounds and take 60 minutes to swim a mile, you will burn 450 calories in an hour. The harder you work and the heavier you weigh, the more calories you burn. The cooler water also stimulates blood circulation and metabolism. Because the metabolism speeds up (even after getting out of the water), the body’s fat stores are reached faster than usual.
Swimming develops muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. Since water adds twelve times more resistance than air, swimming helps build muscle strength faster. Swimming works all the major muscle groups and the smoothness of the movements helps to lengthen and stretch the muscles, rather than making them bulky. Swimming also improves cardiovascular health and lowers blood pressure.
Swimming benefits your health and can even lengthen your life! A recent University of Carolina study followed more than 40,000 men over a 32-year period. Swimmers were 50 percent less likely to die during the study period than walkers or runners.
In addition to the physical benefits, there are psychological benefits of swimming. Swimming forces you to regulate your breathing, while massaging your muscles and relieving stress. Being enveloped by water creates a meditative feeling, leaving you calm and relaxed. And swimming is fun. Spending time in an aqua aerobics class or masters swim class is a great social outlet. You can swim with friends, whether in a pool, lake or ocean.
Swimming is truly the perfect exercise you can do for a lifetime.
