Swimming Pool: Health Benefits of Water Workouts

Let’s admit it: Sometimes it is just no fun to exercise. And there are tons of excuses why today is a bad day to pack your sports gear and head for the gym. Yes, you have to do that laundry and weed the flowerbed and vacuum your car. So, why not just get it done and than reward yourself with a jump into the sparkling clear water of your pool. You deserve it!
And this is just one of the reasons why a backyard swimming pool can be the start to a new, healthier lifestyle. Ditch the time you have to spend in the car to drive to the gym. Having a swimming pool right outside the patio-door will make a daily exercise routine as simple as putting on a bathing suit.

The other big plus is, that swimming is good for everyone. Swimming is one of the sports you can continue until a very high age. It is suitable for the superfit sporting ace, as well as for somebody having problems breathing due to asthma or recovering from an injury and not being able to put stress on body and joints.

Benefits for Asthma-Patients
Since swimming does improve the lung volume and encourages good breathing techniques it is very beneficial for the respiratory system. Another plus for swimming is that it takes place in a moist and humid environment, which is gentler on the longs, than most non-water-based sports or a workout routines. Unfortunately the dry air in an indoor gym can often be dry, which is likely to cause asthmatic symptoms

Gentle on the Joint
Since water is much denser than air, our body is almost weightless when immersed in water. Therefore doctors often recommend some kind of water exercise when you are recovering from an injury or when you have to go gentle on your joints. Try also stretching in the water.

Great Way to Spend Some Family Time
Fact is, that your kids will love to splash in the pool with you on a hot summer day or after a long day at school. It will be easy to encourage to any kind of game or swim-race - and all of you will have your exercise in for the day. Plus, you spent some fun quality time together.

Another tip: Don’t get discouraged if you can’t swim for a full half hour at a time at first. Your body has to adjust not the new way of breathing and swimming really does require every muscle in your body to move and stay afloat. That is not an easy task, so take it slow. Try swimming four length of the pool or as many length as are easy for you, rest 30 seconds and than repeat swimming lengthwise five to ten times. Increase the amount of time you swim without resting over time. Invite a friend to swim some laps with you if you need extra encouragement.