The Benefits of Swimming As Your Choice of Cardio

Swimming has long been accepted as a means of cardiovascular exercise which is easy on the joints of the body while providing a meaningful and intense training session. Performing swimming on a regular basis as your chosen method of cardiovascular activity has many benefits that go beyond just respiratory endurance. You can potentially burn up to 700 calories per hour with this low impact exercise of choice.

Because swimming utilizes all the muscles in your body, you will improve your strength, flexibility and posture while burning fat and improving the cardiovascular system’s use of oxygen. Because there is no direct weight on any one joint, such as the pressure of the knees due to running, overweight individuals can utilize swimming as their choice of cardio and perform as intense a training session as a runner might while maintaining a lower risk of injury.

Swimming is also a perfect choice of exercise for people recovering from injuries or pregnant woman as the buoyancy in the water allows for low impact exercise that still contains all the intensity of a regular workout.

Another great bonus for making swimming your new routine is the benefit of stress reduction. It is extremely relaxing because of the release of pressure on your body, allowing more blood to circulate throughout the body. You also learn to change and regulate your breathing while in the water which can help reenergize you and your tired muscles.

The best way to incorporate swimming into your workout routine is to start with a 15 – 20 minute session at first. Gradually, add on five minutes per week until you are doing a 45 – 60 minute session at a time. The best swim technique is the front crawl where your body is in the prone position with your arms moving as a windmill and face in the water, breathing on the side that the arm is out of the water. Alternating swim techniques such as the butterfly stroke or doggie paddle can help combat boredom and give you a rest by using alternate muscles.

You can also perform aerobics in the water, called aquatics, which are often taught at recreational pools or fitness clubs with pools for a great training session. Or, try running, kicking, or simply treading water for a tough workout that makes you want to play some more. Grab a friend to enjoy some social time while performing exercise in a creative and fun way.

Jason likes to write about various topics which interest him. One of his latest websites is http://earthlitemassagetables.org which helps people who are looking to purchase Earthlite massage tables.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Batty
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-Swimming-As-Your-Choice-of-Cardio&id=3762749

Be Sociable, Share!

•