Swimming is one of the most popular sports we know of. It’s been around for ages and people love it. Not only is the activity itself fun but it has a lot of benefits to its name too. That is why people often choose swimming as their go-to when in need of a recreational hobby, be it indoors or outdoors.
The majority of advantages we look forward to when talking about swimming don’t require us to be professionals. In fact, you don’t need to know all the strokes, techniques, or training methods either. What you do need to know is how to swim and that is enough for you to start. If you wish to develop your swimming skills, you can always find a coach and work on yourself, but if you want to do a little extra work on your fitness by doing something different from what you’re used to, you’ll be fine with knowing the basics.
What makes swimming so amazing, you ask? Here is our top list of why this sport is one of a kind and in exactly which ways it can help improve your life.
Calorie reduction
If you ever went swimming for a longer period of time, you must know just how hungry you can feel after a tiring swim session. This happens because swimming burns calories and it burns them big time. It is one of the few physical activities which can burn insane amounts of calories in a very short time frame. So, if you’re trying to stay within a caloric deficit and lose pounds this could be your option.
One of the main reasons why this burning of calories happens is because swimming activates your whole body. The more effort and motion you produce the more calories are burned. From the biggest to the smallest, all group muscles work when you swim, which makes this activity incredible when losing body fat.
Posture fix
To swim you have to move your whole body in a very specific way. Having a proper swimming technique will aid greatly in fixing your posture as a result. People who sit a lot or slouch when walking usually see improvement once they take up swimming. All the inactive muscles wake up and start developing during swimming. From thereon they start playing their role when it comes to your posture and you move more naturally.
Moreover, swimming is often recommended and practiced as a recovery method for certain injuries. Slow-paced, mild swimming workouts can be a beneficial active-recovery method for all types of injury-induced inflammation.
Muscle activation
Looking for a way to shape your whole body with only one exercise?
Swimming is the answer.
Like we’ve previously mentioned, swimming fires up all the cylinders in your body resulting in a one-of-a-kind workout. If you’re not interested in changing your workouts often then try swimming. It doesn’t require much planning, switching machines, weights, etc.
All you need to do is find yourself a swimming lane and stick to it. As long as your lungs and muscles allow for it, of course.
One of the hidden perks of swimming is that long-term swimmers attain incredible symmetry. To progress and develop, their whole body needs to progress and develop. Otherwise, the results won’t show. That is why professional swimmers have one of the most aesthetically pleasing physiques out there!
Mood booster/sleep improvement
Apart from building killer looks and repairing muscle tissue, swimming is also famous for mood improvement. People usually leave their swimming sessions feeling proud and happy. Not only because of the heavy dopamine release which takes place but also because of a sense of accomplishment. Nothing beats those two combined.
Any difficult physical activity has the potential to help you in sleeping better. Swimming is no different. On top of all the tension in your body getting released, water is also known because it can tire you out after a while. Use this to your advantage if you’re struggling with sleep deprivation or insomnia. Try going for a swim in the evening and see if you fall asleep easier later.
Lung practice
There is almost no lung practice out there like swimming. Your lung capacity increases the most when performing exercises either on high altitudes or in water. Holding your breath while swimming increases the amounts of oxygen your lungs can intake and maintain. As a result, you can swim for longer periods of time without feeling tired or in need of a break.
Obvious note – before you develop your stamina it will feel like hell. Reaching a certain point in endurance can be extremely challenging, regardless of your age and desired sport. However, the reward for the valiant effort you’ve put in will surely deliver.
Lung capacity is important for your fitness condition and overall health. Performing great while swimming can improve your results in other areas as well. If nothing, at least your every day life will be way easier and you won’t have to worry about the elevator not working.
