Are you getting the most out of your pool in your backyard? Summers in Florida come with sweltering heat, which can make normal outdoor physical activities unpleasant. Swimming offers physical exercise without worry of heat exhaustion. So what are the benefits?
1. It Boosts Cardiovascular Health
Similar to jogging or bicycling, swimming provides a rhythmic-like aerobic exercise in which the large muscles in your body move repetitively. Swimming engages large muscle groups in your legs, arms, back, abdomen and hips. During this exercise, you breathe deeper and faster, which increases the amount of oxygen in your blood. In order to keep up, your heart beats faster to increase the blood flow to your muscles and lungs. This strengthens your heart, increases your stamina and reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
2. It Builds Muscle
Swimming and exercise movements in water help build muscle by utilizing resistance. Water is almost 800 times denser than air, which adds resistance to any type of movement done in water. Swimming can increase muscle mass in addition to strengthening and toning muscle. Swimming can also be a helpful way to build strength with a low risk of injury or strain.
3. It is Low Impact
Unlike aerobic exercises like jogging, there isn’t any surface to impact and that protects your joints from stress and strain. Swimming can be an especially beneficial form of exercise for those suffering from arthritis, low back pain or other physical limitations. Because of water’s buoyancy, it reduces the weight your body has to bear down to 30% when your body is immersed in water up to the chest.
4. It Burns Calories
Want to burn some calories? An hour of swimming at a leisurely pace burns about 400 calories, while more vigorous swimming or laps can burn about 600 calories. However, due to the amount of energy used when swimming, it can often stimulate an appetite.
5. It is Great for Family Time
Swimming is a physical activity that can be enjoyed by friends and family members of all ages, including your four-legged family member — your dog! Games and activities in the pool can make you forget you’re even exercising because you’re having so much fun. From classics like “Marco Polo” and “Sharks –n- Minnows” to Pool Volleyball, “Water Hoops” and more, swimming in the pool can be a blast with the whole family.
6. It Improves Mental Health
Swimming is not only beneficial for physical health, but can be beneficial for mental health as well. Swimming, like other aerobic exercises, can improve your mood along with reducing tension and feelings of distress. Research has also shown that swimming can contribute to a decrease in feelings of depression and anxiety.