Swimming is a fantastic form of exercise that sometimes gets overlooked as a way to workout.

As a child I was known as the water baby, then as I got older I got ‘too cool’ for proper swimming.  Over the past few years though every summer i’d get out the goggles and take myself down to the local pools and try get my groove back.

I’ve just recently started swimming again on a regular basis and I tell you it’s quite addictive. There’s something about it that just keeps bringing you back. Is it the cooling affect on the body? The way my body gets a workout without having to use heavy weights or impact? Or maybe it’s the almost meditative state I get in as I stare at the black line leading me to the end of the pool. “1,2,3, aaaahhhhppp” (that’s my breathing noise) when I follow this rhythm and just focus on what I am doing it is incredibly calming. I forget about the list of things I have to do that day or whatever random thoughts are swimming through my mind.

Here are just some of the many health benefits of swimming

• Swimming is a great workout because you need to move your whole body against the resistance of the water
•  Keeps your heart rate up (depending on how fast you’re going)
•  Builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness
•  Helps maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart and lungs (It is believed to help asthma sufferers – I am one and I love swimming)
•  Tones muscles and builds strength (ok it’s not quite a weights workout, but it definitely helps!)
•  Provides an all-over body workout, as nearly all of your muscles are used during swimming.
•  Being a relaxing and peaceful form of exercise
•  Alleviating stress
•  Improving coordination, balance and posture
•  Improving flexibility
•  Providing good low-impact therapy for some injuries and conditions
•  Providing a pleasant way to cool down on a hot day

With a list like that don’t you just want to get your swimming costume on, grab your goggles and just dive right in to your closest pool?!

Things you must know

• If you’re not a confident swimmer I would definitely recommend you invest in a few swimming lessons. There is no shame is getting some help, it will improve your form and may save your life.
• I recommend purchasing a good quality swimming costume, one that is designed for lap training. This way it will keep its shape, colours and is chlorine resistant. It’s an investment. That goes for goggles too. Invest in a good pair and they will last you a long time!

Whenever clients ask me whether swimming is good for them or not I always give two very enthusiastic thumbs up. You just can’t go wrong. Keep in mind swimming is like any exercise, the harder you work the better the benefits. Floating around in a pool is lovely and relaxing but won’t do much for your fitness levels or physique.

I say the only downside of the whole thing is smelling like chlorine and having strawlike hair until you wash it. Well you’re going to shower anyway I say so no downsides!

To find out the closest swimming pool, go to your local councils website. For private pools and leisure centres do a search through google to find the closest one to you.