The advantages of swimming extend beyond pleasure and enjoyment of being in the water. This enormously popular sport worldwide encourages good health and a good quality of life, affecting physical and mental well-being.
The practice not only strengthens the body, but also offers a unique experience of relaxation in the water, providing muscle development and even stress relief.
So, if you want to know more about how this sport can contribute to a healthier and more balanced life, stay here and check out the list of 8 benefits of swimming to include in your routine now!
7 benefits of swimming that will motivate you to start practicing!
Swimming is one of the sports that make up triathlon and is also a popular leisure activity that draws people of all ages into the water .
The practice, which ranges from learning the basic skill of swimming to competing at a professional level, can provide practitioners with a series of health benefits.
So, to motivate you to start training in this sport and take advantage of all the benefits it has to offer, check out the list below with 7 benefits of swimming for your life!
1. Improves breathing
To start the list, one of the main benefits of swimming is improved breathing. This is due to the nature of the activity, which requires efficient control of lung function in order to move properly in the water.
The regular rhythm of inhalation and exhalation not only optimizes the efficiency of oxygen in the body, but also strengthens respiratory muscles , such as the diaphragm, allowing for better breathing.
In addition, swimming includes phases of apnea, when the athletes keep their breath underwater for short intervals. This training increases lung capacity and the capacity to hold air, which can be useful for better breathing in daily life.
Swimming is also beneficial for patients with breathing complications, since strengthening respiratory muscles improves lung capacity and the efficiency of the organ.
2. Muscle strengthening
Swimming is an exercise that is capable of making the body’s muscles stronger, thanks to water resistance, making a number of muscle groups exercised during training.
Swimming is also an endurance exercise , which means that your muscles have to work for prolonged periods of time. This helps develop muscular endurance , allowing them to continue functioning normally even when they are fatigued.
3. Provides low impact on joints
This modality offers low impact , because the water supports part of the body weight, reducing stress on the joints. This is due to the natural buoyancy on the surface, which provides a smoother environment for the body’s movements.
Also, water offers a form of natural cushioning, enabling smooth, controlled movements without stressing the joints. This aspect makes swimming an excellent choice for rehabilitation and for individuals who wish to exercise without risking exacerbating joint issues.
4. Works the whole body
Among the many benefits of swimming, another that stands out is that the practice works the entire body, after all, it is necessary to coordinate the movements of the limbs to move in the water.
Throughout the exercise, the muscles of the arms are engaged in through the strokes and also the legs. This causes a thorough exercise that serves to tone and firm up all areas of muscle.
In addition to this, swimming demands continual muscular effort in order to breach the resistance in water, hence its contribution towards muscular endurance as a result of working the muscles day after day over time.
5. Helps with weight loss
If you are looking for a sport that helps you lose weight , swimming could be a good option! This sport burns significant calories and involves continuous movements, resulting in high energy expenditure.
It can also boost basal metabolism, or the number of calories the body expends at rest. The growth in muscle mass from water exercise can accelerate energy expenditure, assisting with weight maintenance.
6. Improves posture
Body posture can be improved through swimming, after all, one of the main reasons is that movements in the water require proper posture to maintain efficiency in the sport . The necessary alignment during practice helps to develop postural awareness and improve it.
At the same time, swimming can strengthen the muscles in your back, shoulders and core, which are essential for maintaining proper posture, as well as contributing to more effective support for your spine and shoulders, preventing posture problems.
7. Helps with flexibility
Swimming can help improve flexibility in a number of ways. The smooth, fluid movements of swimming in the water naturally stretch your muscles, helping to increase the range of motion in your joints.
As you already know, swimming is a low-impact activity, which makes it beneficial for those who want to improve flexibility without putting too much strain on their body, and is a good choice for people with joint problems or injuries .