The Health Perks of Swimming

I love the beach and going to the pool. I swear it’s the only time that a workout doesn’t feel like a workout at all. However, swimming also has numerous health benefits. Here are some of them.

Full Body Workout

Fitness freaks and sports fans know that workouts are healthy. Some focus on cardio, while others work on their strength or explosive power. Swimming covers all of these. Forget leg day and arm day, when you swim it’s a whole-body day. It’s especially great when there are muscle groups that you normally neglect or forget about in your workouts.

Your biceps, triceps, glutes, abs, back, quads – all of them are working to keep you afloat. Not to mention the constant movement builds up your endurance. Your lungs take in more air and your heart learns how to cope with this new rhythm.

Burning Calories

I’m going to be honest here – I don’t always watch what I eat. I’ve had heavier and lighter phases in my life. However, as swimming is a full-body workout, it burns calories like nobody’s business. And it often doesn’t feel like I am exercising at all, though I can use a nap after a long swim.

Improved Mood

Those who exercise regularly, and swimmers in particular, are more upbeat and energetic. They are more up for doing things than an average person.

It won’t be long before you notice you have enough energy to do other physically demanding things, like hiking, helping a friend move, or flexing for the joy of it.

I am no mental health expert by any means so take this with more than a grain of salt, but I believe that swimming can also ease some of the problems of people who have mental health issues.

Healthier Sleep

The consequence or concurrence of improved mood is the ability to fall asleep more easily and have a healthier sleep overall. It is a combination of being wiped out from doing a demanding physical activity and being happy from all the endorphins in your system. This is also one of the usual benefits of being physically active.

Perfect for Recovery And Disabilities

I’m not talking about active rest recovery, though that too is one of the perks of swimming. What I’m talking about is that swimming is perfect for most people, including those going through physical rehabilitation or struggling with a condition like asthma, arthritis, or MS (though you should, of course, check with your doctor if swimming is okay for you).

Pregnant women often face the struggle of not being able to work out in fear of hurting the baby or themselves. As it turns out, swimming is a pregnant-friendly physical activity.

Chlorine Vs Sea Salt

Here’s the thing: I love going to the pool. It gives you a much clearer idea of how to measure your progress, it’s great for diving, and some of them have jumping boards. However, pools aren’t right for everyone. Sometimes it’s because people are sensitive to chlorine. Other times, it’s the lack of hot water in the showers and it’s freezing outside.

Swimming in the sea is as good as it gets, honestly. The fresh air, the sun in the sky, the cold water that can easily be remedied by the aforementioned sun… And there is the added benefit of giving your feet a massage and workout while walking on the sand.