How to get started in open water swimming
Since childhood we’ve been told “Swimming is the best sport” or “It is the most complete physical activity”. Curiously, or a minimum of in my childhood, who affirmed that with absolute vehemence weren’t athletes, but my mother, who precisely didn’t know much about sports, although it’s true that she swam, and zip , it’s glorious to see her. i might like to have her style. In her case, swimming was in fact the best sport with Lifeguard Recertification.
Because it had been the only one she practiced, and only during the three months of the year that we vacationed faraway from the madding crowd of the big city. My mother isn’t an athlete, but she wasn’t wrong when she proclaimed to the four winds the virtues of swimming. let’s examine twenty of the many benefits that this sport brings and why it is so healthy in the daily life of anyone, from babies to the elderly. Everyone can find in swimming how to improve their psychomotricity and the development and maintenance of their body. Especially if we are runners.
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Strengthens muscles
When swimming we use most of the muscle groups in our body: the buttocks and hips to hit the water, the abdominals to twist and switch against the wall, the shoulders and arms to form the movement of the helix. Both the upper and lower body, also as the trunk and head, are toned once they come into contact with the resistance of the water. The core is one among the strongest and you already know that having a strong core is good for much more than just having a nice figure. Strengthening these muscles increases chest mobility, which is vital to maintaining good posture and reducing lower back pain. It helps to possess a better footprint and therefore a better running technique .
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Improve elasticity
The practice of swimming increases the pliability and elasticity of the muscles. because of the movements of the joints necessary for the practice of swimming, it’s possible to acquire greater mobility and flexibility of the extremities, favoring the rise of our range of movement.
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Produces low impact on the joints
Swimming may be a low-impact sport that does not damage the spine or the joints. By floating through the water, it’s easier on the joints than other contact sports. it’s a soft discipline since the water cushions. This makes them less worn and better preserved. The density of water means once we swim, the spine doesn’t have to support the entire weight of the body.
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Promotes coordination and agility
Swimming improves motor coordination. When a correct technique is followed, the development is impressive. you’ll not have a very refined style, therein case, it’s always appropriate to take classes to get the most out of the pool. and therefore the same, if you swim in open water.
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Improve balance
It not only improves balance but also helps to realize a more efficient and faster reaction time. When practicing swimming, blood flow increases, and with this, as we’ll see later, memory is additionally greatly improved and learning is favored.
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Prevents osteoporosis
Swimming is very recommended for women who suffer from osteoporosis after menopause, since swimming makes our muscles work more, which successively helps us achieve greater bone density.
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Prevents and relieves back pain
Swimming is one among the best activities to strengthen and make your back more flexible , walk upright and not have cervical or lumbago . But not all styles are valid. If you suffer from back pain, swim on your back and avoid the breaststroke and butterfly.
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Helps reduce
When we practice swimming we can burn 500 to 1000 calories per hour. This energy consumption varies from one person to a different , from one style to a different , whether you swim during a pool or in open water or the temperature of the water. it’s the perfect sport to maintain a slim and fit body.
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an excellent cross-trainer for runners
Although sometimes you get lazy, especially in winter, swimming is one among the best sports to do cross training. within the water, there’s almost no weight and our bones and ligaments can rest while activating upper and lower body muscles such as arms, obliques, hip flexors and abs.
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It allows us to coach when we get injured
It is perfect for when you have an injury such as plantar fasciitis or tendinitis. It helps to simply raise your heart rate and exercise all the muscles of the body, which is extremely useful for strengthening your arms and improving the efficiency of your arm strokes when running. However, while swimming helps maintain fitness once you have an injury, it doesn’t cure it. the simplest thing an injured runner can do to get back on their feet is to find the root cause of their injury and do specific strengthening exercises to correct it.
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Helps prevent injuries
Of all the low-impact cross-training exercises—including cycling, the elliptical, and rowing—swimming causes the smallest amount biomechanical stress on the body due to its low impact on the joints, which It becomes the favourite of runners when it comes to avoiding or rehabilitating from an injury. But as we’ve said before, it helps prevent injuries, but it doesn’t cure them.
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Activates the cardiovascular system
When you exercise in a horizontal position, blood return is bigger because the blood does not have to deal with gravity when moving through the body. additionally , when we swim, the water exerts a massage-like effect on the muscles, which activates the blood and promotes its circulation. If you suffer, for instance , from tired legs or varicose veins, swimming may be a good way to relieve heavy legs.
