Why Swimming is the Best Exercise
Ranked as the second-leading activity in terms of growth in the U.S., swimming is one of the top activities that people record in their activity tracker indexes, says The Spruce. Why is swimming so popular? It’s one of the best exercises you can do — and it’s fun!
Swimming is one of the best exercises you can do to get in shape. Not only does it burn an insane amount of calories, but swimming also improves cardiovascular function and flexibility while being a low-impact activity that bones and joints won’t balk at. What’s more, swimming is great for mental health. Let's look closer at what this exercise has to offer.
Burns Calories
Swimming burns a lot of calories. According to Shape, swimming burns anywhere from 223 calories to 878 calories per hour, depending on the stroke used. To delve a bit deeper, an average 140-pound adult will burn about 528 calories an hour swimming at a medium speed attained with vigorous effort. That same adult will burn only 446 calories jogging.
Aerobic Exercise
Swimming is the perfect aerobic exercise, says Time. While it may not seem like strenuous exercise, everything from muscles, to lungs and heart are working hard while we swim. First, the water provides even resistance, which helps increase the intensity of the workout. The way we breathe while swimming is also different. Apparently we take deeper, quicker breaths, which helps improve lung strength.
Low-Impact
Other types of activities can be jarring and may even wreak havoc on bones and joints. Swimming, on the other hand, is a low-impact activity. It protects joints and bones from strain according to the Cleveland Clinic. When swimming, the water supports much of our weight — as much as 90% if we're immersed to the neck. This allows us to strengthen muscles and build endurance while lowering the likelihood of injury.
Increased Flexibility
Swimming involves smooth movements that stretch muscles. This improves flexibility, but it’s not the only thing that does. The buoyancy, resistance and temperature of the water also work together to loosen stiff muscles.
Mental Health
Being in the water is relaxing, almost meditative. Additionally, it involves rhythmic motions and breathing that can mimic meditation. For this reason, swimming is great for alleviating mental health issues such as anxiety, stress and depression. The feeling of being weightless and surrounded by warm water is also very calming.
So not only does swimming pose many health and physical benefits but there are plenty of mental benefits, too. For best results, experts recommend we swim for 30 minutes, three times per week. Once we build up endurance, we can increase the frequency or duration of sessions. It may help to track speed, as watching it increase can be a great motivator. It’s possible to get in shape while enjoying a fun, relaxing exercise—and swimming may be top of the heap in terms of benefits. Splish splash, everyone!
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