Doctors and physicians are always saying we need a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week to maintain a healthy body -- or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity. If you were to take the weekends off, that only amounts to 30 minutes each day.
When most people hear the term physical activity or exercise, they immediately think of going for a run or heading to the gym -- two things most people don’t enjoy. The good news is there are other ways to maintain your physical health without running, jogging, or lifting weights.
In fact, you could satisfy your weekly fitness needs by swimming -- you know, that thing we do for fun! Swimming regularly is a great way to stay healthy and it’s considered a vigorous activity, which means you only need 75 minutes of it per week to maintain physical and mental health.
So, what are the health benefits of swimming?
There are plenty of health benefits of swimming but don’t panic if you don’t know how to swim or aren’t very good at swimming. You can easily take swimming lessons to enhance your swimming abilities and grow your confidence when you step foot in the swimming pool.
The most obvious benefit of swimming is the amount of fun you can have without having to worry about sweaty clothes and bad body odor. It’s one of the most refreshing ways to exercise, which has to stand for something! And when you’re done, you can lay outside and get a tan!
Not only does it help you adopt healthy habits that you can utilize in other areas of your life, but there are a number of hidden benefits that most people wouldn’t believe. Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent benefits when you start swimming on a regular basis:
Improves Your Mental Health
If you swim regularly for as little as a half-hour per day, you would gradually start to improve your mental health. It’s a great way to take your mind off the constant stimulation we encounter daily. In fact, the mental health benefits of swimming are often compared to that of yoga.
It’s a Low-Impact Full Body Workout
Whether you feel it or not, swimming is a total body workout that involves all muscle groups and systems inside the body. If you’re looking to exercise your entire body through swimming, start learning the various strokes there are to swimming. It also allows people of all fitness levels to go at their own pace.
Increases Your Calories Burned
If you’re worried about how many calories you eat on a daily basis, fear no more. Swimming burns calories at an insane rate, which is great if you’re trying to lose weight or maintain body weight. That’s why so many young overweight adults are starting to turn to swimming!
Excellent Form of Cardiovascular Fitness
Swimming is a form of aerobic exercise, which means it requires the use of oxygen as energy. Moderate aerobic activity is very good for the cardiovascular system because it makes the heart larger, which increases blood flow, improves glucose control, and strengthens the heart.
Improves Lung Capacity & Lung Functions
In addition to the heart, swimming laps in the pool is healthy for your lung activity. It increases lung capacity and breath endurance, boosts breath-holding capability, reduces symptoms of asthma, increases your core strength, supports spine health, and improves your posture.
Helps You Relieve Stress
Are you dealing with chronic unpredictable mild stress from time to time? Do you experience acute mood symptoms? Well, swimming might be your answer. Swimming exercise releases endorphins, which can save you from adding or putting stress in your life that’s unneeded.
Supports Those With a Physical Disability or Injury
If you’re someone with an injury or physical disability, swimming is a great way to enjoy a safer road to recovery. It’s not only a safe and ideal exercise for those going through pain, but it can help reduce joint and muscle pain via a gentle resistance workout. It’s a win-win situation.
Improved Sleep Patterns
Research shows that aerobic exercise can help improve your sleep patterns. Whether you have been diagnosed with or have self-reported sleep disorders, swimming fatigue could help you fall asleep and lead to a more quality life overall. In fact, it could help reduce symptoms of insomnia in older adults.
Safe for Pregnant Women
Believe it or not, swimming is a water-based exercise program that could be performed throughout all three trimesters. If you’re trying to stay healthy during pregnancy, swimming could be one of your No. 1 choices. You should speak with your doctor beforehand, but it’s GRAS.
Increases Muscle Mass & Muscle Strength
If all the health benefits listed above weren’t enough to get you excited, a swimming workout could also increase muscle mass and muscle strength. With just a little bit of aquatic exercise each day, you could see bigger chest muscles, a stronger upper body, and a more defined core.
Are You Looking for Pool Management & Staffing?
Whether you own a hotel, motel, apartment building, residential community, or fitness center, offering your guests or tenants a swimming pool is one of the most prominent amenities available. It’s a great way to show you care about your tenants and increase property value.
Of course, adding a swimming pool comes with several challenges -- including managing and maintaining it for proper use. If not managed correctly, you could risk injury, illness, hazards, or drawbacks from your guests due to a lack of cleanliness. These are things no owner wants.
That’s where we come in. At Community Amenity Management, we ensure your guests are given the best experience when enjoying your swimming pools -- whether they’re outdoor or indoor pools. We offer pool management, staffing, safety plans, employee training, and more.
To learn more about our services and what we can do to help you manage and maintain your swimming pool for continued safety, contact us today. We can’t wait to show you what we’re capable of!
