The Health Benefits of Swimming

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The Benefits of Swimming

The benefits of swimming can be enormous and are very wide-ranging. Swimming is regarded as one of, if not the best form of exercise. There are many reasons for this...

The benefits of swimming include the ability to burn off hundreds of calories per hour, while boosting lung function and improving blood circulation and heart function. Swimming also helps to build muscle, increase stamina and protect joints!

Swimming is great for all ages!

Swimming is something that can be done by people of all ages and fitness levels. This means it's something that the whole family can do together, or something you can do with a group of friends.

Not only does this make swimming a lot of fun to do, it also helps you to stick at it long-term without it feeling like a workout! This is just another of the many benefits of swimming. benefits of swimming, swimming strokes, swimming technique, swimming tips, swimming workouts

The perfect all-rounder

If there is just one type of exercise you choose to do then swimming would probably be the best option for all round toning, cardio and internal health benefits.

Swimming uses all the major muscle groups of the body, which is one of the reasons it helps to burn as many calories as it does.

Depending on a combination of how vigorously you do it, and your body weight, you can burn an average of between 400-700 calories per hour! We think you'll agree this is an astonishing number. And it's one that enables you to see just how much swimming can help to keep you trim and slim and your body fat low.

Swimming provides massive cardiovascular benefits

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Due to the physical activity of swimming and the fact it uses your whole body, your heart works hard to pump blood around your arms and legs.

This strengthens your heart and the muscles around it, along with improving blood circulation and helping to lower blood pressure.

The deep and rhythmic breathing that it encourages gives a health boost to your lungs and helps them to function at their maximum efficiency.

This helps to increase stamina so that you can keep going for longer during this or any other activity you may participate in.

Time-saving workout

The resistance the water offers also makes your body work harder, giving the results of 45 minutes of activity outside the water in just 30 minutes in the water! So for those with busy lives this time-saving benefit can be very important.

A low impact exercise that strengthens joints

Swimming is also the best type of exercise for those looking to protect their joints from injury...or even to help recover from injury! Due to the water taking the weight of your body off your joints, it is known as a low impact exercise.

Unlike running, for example, which impacts heavily on your joints from the weight of your body landing on each foot as you stride, swimming is gentler on your body, even when working at maximum intensity. It is this reason that lends swimming favourably to pregnant women or elderly people.

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Build muscle

People looking to build muscle will also benefit from regular swimming sessions. Whereas some weight-lifting workouts concentrate solely on one muscle group, swimming will help tone muscles in your whole body.

Your arms, shoulders, chest, back, abdominals, butt and legs all work together when swimming, giving you a comprehensive full body workout.

So, as you have read the benefits of swimming really are numerous and wide-ranging. We hope this has given you a real reason to go out there and do it! It's great fun and so refreshing for body and mind.

To gain a better understanding of the benefits of swimming and the techniques used for more efficient use of energy and increased speed,
try this Comprehensive Guide to the Science of Swimming.