3 Top Benefits of Swimming for Fitness

Swimming is one of those exercises that's hard to hate, since it’s gentle and yet fun at the same time! Most people enjoy a dip in the pool, so why not turn that dip into some laps as a form of exercise? There are many fitness benefits that one can get from swimming. If you're not convinced, here are 3 reasons why:

1. Swimming Is Great Cardio

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Swimming requires a lot of energy and burns a lot of calories thanks to the fact that, when you swim, you need to move your whole body instead of just your legs or your arms. Swimming works your body and heart the same way any cardio workout, such as dancing or running would. So if you take up swimming for fitness, you will work your heart and boost your metabolism at the same time. To get the most out of swimming, it’s best to carry out interval training where you do high-intensity sprint swimming alternated with easier workouts. This way you’ll push your body hard - but not too hard, and boost your metabolism for a longer period of time.

2. Swimming Is Great For Strength Training

Not only is swimming good for a cardio workout, swimming challenges muscles all over your body and is great for increasing overall body strength. The water resistance you face while swimming forces your muscles to work harder - just like traditional forms of strength training. You’ll be able to gain some muscle and tone up your body at the same time. Swimming is also widely used as therapy to strengthen injured muscles in athletes since the water resistance provides a good workout without adding stress to the injured body parts.

3. Swimming Is Great For Everybody!

The great thing about swimming is that everybody can do it and enjoy it. It's suitable for every age group and fitness level; you can decide how hard to push yourself when you swim. Elderly people can benefit from swimming as the water provides support and cushioning so that they can stay fit without worrying about injuring their back or joints. It’s also a great activity for you to do with your family: you can have fun together and stay healthy at the same time! If you bring little kids along to the pool or beach, though, be sure to always keep an eye on them to prevent any accidents.