By Karen Creasey
Are you one of those people who want to be healthy and not just feel healthy? That’s what I thought. Me too! If I gave you a prescription for a single activity that could help you get to your ideal body weight, while strengthening your heart muscle, lowering your cholesterol, reducing your risk for diabetes, and assisting you with balance, flexibility, and stamina all with little to no impact to your skeletal system, would you be interested?
The good news is that I have that prescription. There is a single aerobic activity that has the ability to do all those things and more. While building your body into the healthy framework you desire and helping you feel and look younger. It sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Well it’s not and guess what….it’s swimming.
Swimming offers something no other aerobic exercise does: the ability to work your muscular system, your cardiovascular system, your respiratory system, and more all without harsh impact to your skeletal system. Gone are the days when you have to run through foot pain or bike while your knees throb. When the human body is submerged in water, it automatically becomes lighter. When immersed the body bears less impact on the framework making the pool an ideal place to workout stiff muscles and sore joints while burning calories.
Have you ever seen a flabby fish or a weak looking competitive swimmer? Me either. Swimming provides a unique element to a workout that you don’t get while walking, jogging, or biking so you can look and feel fit. Water is twelve times denser than air and provides resistance with every move you make. Resistance exercise is the best way to build muscle strength and tone.
Swimming as well puts the body framework through a broad range of motion that helps joints and ligaments stay loose and flexible. Range of motion is imperative to a healthy lifestyle. The body is made to move and your range of motion determines your ability to go and do the things you want.
If you are one of those people who wants to be healthy not just feel healthy. If you want to get to your ideal body weight while strengthening and toning without unnecessary impact. Swimming could very well be the answer.
For more information, for swim lessons, or to speak to a trainer call us at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center 760-565-7467.
