Summer is here, and so is the sun. Cool off on your next workout and take a lap in the pool to see the benefits – check out these 8 reasons why swimming is good for your health.
1. Two-for-One
Because water is considerably denser than air, you are getting a cardio and resistance workout at the same time. Swimming increases whole body muscle tone providing a great cardio workout.
2. Improved Lung Function
Swimming is a great activity for people with asthma or other breathing difficulties. Because the air you breathe while swimming is generally warm and moist, the negative stress on breathing tubes while exercising is diminished.
3. Calorie Crusher
Swimming typically burns 500-700 calories per hour for most people – more at greater intensities. This compares favorably to most other forms of exercise.
4. Weightless
Forget space travel – swimming is the easiest way to feel weightless. In waist-deep water, 50% of your body weight is supported by the water, especially helpful for those with joint pain. In neck deep water you need to support just 10% of your body weight.
5. Sweat Less
The primary function of sweating is to cool the body down. Because the water in the lap pool is around 80 degrees, nearly 20 degrees cooler than your body temperature, you sweat less while swimming.
6. A Lifelong Activity
Jaring Timmerman of Canada recently set the world record in the men’s 100-104 year old age group with a time of 3:02.22 in the 100 meter freestyle.
7. Never Too Late to Start
Not to be outdone, Mieko Nagaoka of Japan set a world record in the Women’s 100-104 age group 1500 meter swim with a time of 1 hour 15 minutes and 54 seconds. She didn’t start swimming until her 80’s.
8. All-Weather Exercise
Barring lighthing, swimming can be done regardless of the weather. No matter the weather, the Village pools are kept at a constant temperatuer year-round. You can even swim when it’s raining – you’re already wet.
Want to learn more about swimming at The Village? Find out more about our Aquatics programs here.
