The Benefits of swimming
I cannot wait to splash across Lake Windemere in the Great North Swim on 12th September with all those other enthusiastic lovers of clean, cold water. It is a fantastic event, and huge fun for a wonderful cause, but on top of that swimming is an excellent form of exercise and all round therapy for body and soul.
It exercises all the major muscle groups including the shoulders, neck, back, arms, legs and abdomen. Just look at the physiques of our Olympic swimmers – you know it has to be good for you! More importantly, the heart and lungs get a workout too – and it is a great way to burn calories and keep the weight off.
Being weightless in the water has additional benefits. The joints are supported but the muscles activated – so anyone with arthritis, a stiff back, muscle or tendon injury, fluid retention, reduced flexibility or requiring rehabilitation after surgery can swim to win. Aquarobics has become enormously popular as a result – it is gentle, toning and strengthening and is widely used in NHS and private hospital physiotherapy departments all over the country.
I am really excited about swimming again this year in the Great North Swim.
Certain swimming strokes are better for some conditions than others – so listen to your coaches and remember the old saying – different strokes for different folks!
Finally, swimming is a wonderfully social activity. Great for all ages, anyone able-bodied or otherwise can enjoy it and just learning to swim could one day even save your life.
I am really excited about swimming again this year in the Great North Swim. I may not be a jet-ski in the water – but if I can just doggy-paddle home slowly in less than 38 minutes it took me to swim the mile last year I shall be happy.