WITH the temperature soaring recently, there is one thing that you can do that will not only help to cool you down but also has many health benefits associated with it; swimming.
Swimming is one of the most popular sports in Australia. As well as being fun, swimming is a low-impact, healthy activity that has many physical and mental health benefits.
Health benefits of swimming
Swimming is a great workout because you need to move your whole body against the resistance of the water.
Swimming is a good all-round activity because it:
- Keeps your heart rate up but takes some of the impact stress off your body
- Builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness
- Helps maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart and lungs
- Tones muscles and builds strength
- Provides an all-over body workout, as nearly all of your muscles are used during swimming
Other benefits of swimming
Swimming has many other benefits including:
- Being a relaxing and peaceful form of exercise
- Alleviating stress
- Improving coordination, balance and posture
- Improving flexibility
- Providing good low-impact therapy for some injuries and conditions
- Providing a pleasant way to cool down on a hot day
- Being available in many places – you can swim in swimming pools, beaches, lakes, dams and rivers. Make sure that the environment you choose to swim in is safe
Some general tips for swimming
Before you dive in:
- Make sure you know how to swim
- Choose a safe environment
- Warm up and stretch your muscles and joints before entering the water
- Have plenty of fluids on hand and drink regularly
- Don’t overdo it if you’re just starting out
- See your doctor if you haven’t exercised for a long time
