Swimming has many health benefits, from improving heart and lung function to decreasing your risk of chronic diseases and helping you maintain a healthy weight. It can help you feel better mentally, too.
Unlike most aerobic workouts, swimming requires no equipment, is low-impact and can be done by almost everyone. That makes it a great choice for people who have health issues or are recovering from injury.
It is also easy to find a time and place for swimming that works with your schedule, a necessity in a busy world. You can swim at home, in a fitness center or in the pool with your friends.
The benefits of swimming are numerous, but there are a few tips you can follow to improve your results and increase your overall comfort in the water. Whether you’re a novice or a pro swimmer, these tips will help you become stronger in the water and reach your goals.
1. Practice the basics: Try to practice your strokes on land before you head into the water for the first time. This is especially important if you’re new to swimming, as it will allow you to build your confidence without worrying about sinking.
2. Choose a coach: Look for a teacher who specialises in the style of swimming you want to learn. This will ensure you’re getting the best instruction possible and will make the learning process go quicker.
3. Get a good grip: The most important thing you can do is to get your arms positioned correctly in the water. This will prevent your hands from drifting forwards or backwards. It will also help you get a more powerful lift, so you can pull more efficiently.
4. Take breaks: If you’re having trouble breathing, stop and take a breath at the right time. If you have to take a breath during the middle of a forward thrust, stop and breathe before you start the next one.
5. Don’t use your arms too short: You’ll need to stretch your arms as far as you can on each arm pull in order to propel yourself in the most efficient way. This will conserve your energy, and you’ll have less fatigue over the course of a long distance swim.
6. Practice your stroke tempo: It takes a lot of time to develop a smooth stroke tempo, so be sure to do it often. This will help you learn to stay tall in the water, build a consistent pace and improve your overall efficiency.
7. Try catch-up: If you’re struggling to get your body in the air, try catching up on a few strokes. This will help you stay tall and build a steady tempo for your strokes, which will help you swim faster.
8. Breathe: It’s a good idea to take a breath during the middle of your forward thrust and at the end of your recovery. This will help you breathe more effectively, which will also reduce the amount of lactic acid building up in your muscles.