» Make a splash
Melina Greenfield dives headfirst into the many health benefits of going for a swim
Have you recently been thinking about starting a form of exercise? Have pricey membership fees confused you or maybe the thought of wheezing around a park has left you feeling breathless?
Well, how about something a little more low-key that will still boost your health in one small stroke. Whether you plough up the lane or gracefully glide through the water, swimming is such a great activity to get involved in.
Swimming offers so much flexibility for the swimmer; it can be a lone sport or an exercise to be enjoyed with others. There are many strokes that can be adapted to suit your needs – if you want to do high-energy sprints then the front crawl or the butterfly are often used, however if you prefer a more relaxed approached then the breaststroke offers a slower swim but one that is used for a longer period of time and builds up good stamina. It can be enjoyed at any age and can also be particularly helpful to people who are physically impaired or have learning difficulties.
There are many benefits associated with swimming; all the major muscle groups are involved in this exercise, it is low impact and also involves low injury risks, it helps to strengthen shoulder and abdominal muscles (particularly beneficial for pregnant women), reduces and prevents high blood pressure, strengthens the muscles around the heart, improves circulation and helps regulate breathing.
As well as having physical benefits, swimming is also seen as a very relaxing hobby which promotes feelings of wellbeing, as it releases stress and renews energy.
Swimming is an inexpensive form of exercise, and swimming pools are very accessible. What’s more, we could soon be swimming for free: on 6 June of this year, the government released an initiative to get Britain fitter and more sport-orientated; the aim is to make the use of swimming pools in Britain free by 2012 by giving councils nationwide a fund of £130million.
But if you can’t wait for your free swim, now the warmer weather is here, why not take a dip in the sea? Not only has Brighton received a Blue Flag award for cleanliness, it passed with ‘recommendation’. So whether you are a doggie-paddler in the swimming pool or a water-wader in the sea, splash out on a new cozzie, get your goggles on and dive in!
For details about your local swimming pool, call: 01273 292707 or email: sports.info@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
See more health tips at wavemagazine.co.uk
