A popular form of exercise, swimming is an effective full-body workout that can burn a lot of calories. In addition to promoting heart health, it’s also great for your joints and lower back. If you’re worried about injury, swimming is a low-impact activity that’s safe for most fitness levels. If you’re new to swimming, consider joining a group class or finding a personal coach who can help you build confidence and technique in the water.
You don’t need much equipment to get started with swimming. A good swimsuit, a pair of goggles to see underwater and a swimming cap to protect your hair can all be found at most community pools, as well as online or from specialty stores. Swimming is also a very affordable exercise option, with many pool facilities offering membership or casual rates for visitors.
It’s important to start slow when learning how to swim. This will prevent you from over-exerting and injuring yourself. Aim to swim a few laps every day and gradually increase your distance each week. You can also choose to join a swimming club or pool league to compete against other swimmers. This is a great way to keep motivated and push yourself to improve your performance.
There are some basic science lessons you’ll need to know if you want to become a better swimmer. The most fundamental is that air (a gas) and water (a liquid) are different. Water is heavier and more viscous than air, so the same volume of water weighs more. This means that you need to kick harder in the water if you want to stay upright and moving forward.
Another key lesson is that if you’re moving through water, you need to move with it to maintain speed. This is called kinetic energy and can be described by Newton’s Third Law. If you want to change direction, you’ll need to apply the same force in the opposite direction to slow or stop your forward motion. This is why swimmers often look like they’re doing a somersault or a side dive as they change direction.
When you’re swimming, it’s a good idea to point your fingertips in the direction you’re going. This will turn your arms into one big paddle that can pull tons of water compared to an arm that’s straight. Beginners and improvers alike can often lose momentum by cross-overing their fingers or moving their hands to the side of the pool as they swim, instead of pointing their fingertips in the direction they’re going.
Swimming is a fun and rewarding pastime that can be enjoyed by the whole family. You can even try your hand at racing, if you’re brave enough! Whether you’re looking for an alternative to high-impact exercises or simply wanting to lose weight, swimming is a great option for anyone. It can be especially beneficial for those who suffer from knee, hip or ankle problems related to other types of exercise.