While many people know the health benefits of running and other high-impact exercise, few realize how beneficial swimming can be for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, a swim workout can strengthen all major muscle groups while reducing inflammation and improving heart, lung, and mental health. In addition, it’s a great complement to most other forms of exercise.
The best way to learn how to swim is to find a safe, supervised area where you can practice. Swimming pools and lakes are the ideal places to start, but you can also swim in rivers, oceans, or dams (just be sure to follow local safety advice). In addition, you should always swim near a lifeguard when possible.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, try to swim regularly — at least once or twice per week. The key is to commit to consistency, which will dramatically accelerate your learning curve. If you’re not able to commit to regular pool time, try taking swimming lessons or getting a private coach.
Swimming is a low-impact exercise, which means it puts very little strain on your joints and other connective tissue. It’s also a fantastic cardiovascular workout, meaning it burns calories and tones muscles while also helping to manage blood sugar levels. Swimming also helps to boost mental health, as it stimulates the brain’s production of neuro-chemicals that alleviate stress and anxiety, as well as encouraging a process known as hippocampal neurogenesis, which results in the growth of new brain cells.
The most common strokes are the front crawl, freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke. The breaststroke is the easiest for beginners to master, as it requires a relaxed body position and flutter kicks. The other two, freestyle and backstroke, require more skill to execute, but can be learned with practice.
If you’re looking to improve your speed and endurance, swimming drills like flip turns can help. These are used to transition from one side of the pool to another, and they’re important for developing a faster and more efficient freestyle stroke. You can also try adding a tempo trainer to your routine, which is a tool that tracks and measures your swimming times.
You can also add variety to your swim sessions by experimenting with different drills and exercises. This will not only keep you engaged and motivated, but it will also help to increase your strength and flexibility. Trying new equipment like snorkels and paddles can also add some excitement to your session!
As you get more comfortable with the water, take it a step further by exploring the shallow end of the pool. Try moving around the water, walking around and sinking to shoulder depth and even submerging your head completely if you feel confident enough! Don’t forget to breathe slowly and deeply, in through your nose and out through your mouth. This is an essential part of the breathing technique that you should develop in order to get the most out of your swimming experience.
Partner site: decogaleri.com