Just Keep Swimming: Getting in the pool provides a low-impact, full-body workout
The coolest way to exercise could be in a pool. The health benefits of swimming — both physical and mental — are many and make better fitness accessible to nearly everyone.
Low-Impact Training
Swimming is the ultimate in low-impact training. Even if you try to jump, the buoyancy of the water supports so much of your body weight that you barely feel the landing.
This quality makes swimming ideal for folks with arthritis or similar pain-based mobility issues that make land-based workouts challenging. Standing in chest-deep water supports up to 75% of your body weight, letting you move freely without straining your knees, hips or lower back.
Cardiovascular Fitness
Swimming also offers an impressive cardiovascular workout. Swimming just a single lap can get your heart pounding like a sprinter’s. There’s a good reason swimming is one of three events in a typical triathlon.
Best of all, you remain in control. Unlike running on a treadmill, which can feel unsafe for those with balance challenges, the water surrounds you with softness, and you won’t hurt anything if you fall.
Work Different Muscle Groups
Swimming works every muscle group. It takes your whole body to propel yourself through the water, getting everything working from your toes up to turning your head from side to side. Furthermore, water works as natural mild resistance, helping you build muscle by moving against its density.
Even walking in a pool engages different muscles compared to walking on land. Try walking a few laps while doing bicep curls and lateral raises with a pair of special water weights. You’ll get an intense cardiovascular and strength workout — and won’t even break a sweat.
Boost Your Cognitive Power
Staying active gains importance as you age for more than maintaining your range of motion and physical abilities. It also engages your mind. Cognitive decline is two times more likely in inactive adults than in those who stay active throughout adulthood.
Swimming gets blood flowing to your brain, delivering fresh oxygen and nutrients. Those who swim at public facilities also engage in social activity, which can also help keep your mind sharp as you age.
Eases Stress and Improves Mood
Finally, swimming, like many forms of exercise, has a beneficial effect on your mood. It provides an outlet for releasing stress hormones like cortisol. An excess of this hormone can cause anxiety and restlessness. When anxiety goes untreated, it may spiral into depression.
Like other types of exercise, swimming also increases your endorphins. These natural body chemicals act similarly to opioids to decrease your pain sensitivity and provide a mild euphoric feeling.
Health Benefits of Swimming
Take your next workout to the water. The health benefits of swimming are many, making this exercise the perfect way to cross-train. Add a little pool time to your exercise routine and experience positive results.