The Lifelong Benefits of Swimming
The many benefits of swimming make it a near perfect sport. It exercises all the major muscles, toning and firming the whole body at once. Swimming provides an excellent cardiovascular workout without straining the joints and with little chance of injury. Other benefits of swimming include enhancing endurance, balance, strength and flexibility. Best of all, it can be enjoyed throughout life and is ideal for people who, because of injury, arthritis, heart conditions or chronic back problems are unable to participate in other activities. Water’s unique properties make it an excellent medium for exercise. We actually weigh one tenth as much in water as on land so we can work harder and longer with less strain on the muscles. Buoyancy holds the body up, cushioning and supporting the muscles. In a horizontal position, weight-bearing stress is eliminated. The heart enlarges, pumping ten to twenty percent more blood than usual with each beat. Because of the resistance water provides, a half-hour of water exercise can produce much the same results as two hours of land exercise with less effort. Just being in water is soothing and relaxing. Many people enjoy the quiet and privacy it offers. Others prefer the social aspects of being part of a team, joining a club or participating in competitions. YMCAs and community centers provide a variety of swimming activities including exercise and sports. If you don’t know how to swim or feel a bit rusty, you can find a Red Cross swim class in almost any community where you can learn in a comfortable and safe environment.
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