5 benefits of swimming [+ 1 extra benefit for women]
Are you already a fanatic swimming fanatic? Or are you playing with the thought of going swimming?
Then you probably want to know what benefits swimming offers you.
In this blog you will first discover what benefits women specifically benefit from when they go swimming.
Next, you'll read 5 of the biggest, more general benefits of swimming.
Lots of reading (and swimming?) fun!
What are the benefits of swimming for women
Swimming helps women to treat symptoms of PMS and menstrual pain too relieving. During the transition, it is a safe choice to keep moving and strengthen your muscles.
In addition, swimming is in most cases safe during the pregnancy (Please discuss it with your doctor beforehand).
Of course, it belongs baby swimming to one of the most fun and healthiest activities for parent and child in the early years. So swimming offers you an extra big advantage during your pregnancy.
Nice to see that swimming offers extra benefits specifically for women. As if the 5 more general benefits later in this article weren't enough!
In summary, these are the benefits of swimming for women
Swimming has the following specific benefits for women:
- Relief from PMS and menstrual pain.
- Support during the transition.
- Safe physical activity during pregnancy.
- Promoting the relationship between parent and child through baby swimming
Curious about how Patty experiences swimming as a woman? Then watch the video below where she talks about how she experiences swimming (in a Swimm counter-current pool):
What are the more general benefits of swimming?
Most of us obtained at least one swimming diploma (a long time ago). After the period of school swimming and swimming lessons, many unfortunately stop swimming regularly.
This is a shame because swimming has so many benefits. Let's take a birds-eye view of these now.
Benefit 1. You get fitter without a gym
“I want to get fitter and live a healthier life” is certainly in the top 3 of good intentions after every New Year. In January, there is therefore a real run at the gyms and gyms.
A few months later, the enthusiasm is gone: the opening hours are not perfect, the fellow athletes are no fun, you want to quit - but you are stuck with your subscription. And that is often very expensive.
Swimming is cheaper and more flexible. You're not stuck with anything, you don't have to train in a fixed group. Don't like a swimming pool? Then you are looking for another option.
Public swimming pools offer special hours for target groups such as women and seniors. Some people find swimming in a homogeneous group more comfortable.
Are you able to install a swimming pool at home? Then you really have the jackpot in your hands.
With your own pool, you can swim when you want, for as long as you want and with whom you want
(or on your own).
With a swimming area of 4 m x 2.25 m and 6 m x 3 m, the Swim Intelligent Polish by the way, in (almost) every garden.
Benefit 2. Good alternative to running
Running is popular these days and it's hard to beat when it comes to flexibility: put on your shoes and go for a walk. On the other hand, a decent pair of running shoes certainly costs more than a nice bathing suit.
And there are even more points where swimming has an advantage.
Swimming offers you intensive all-round training (see benefit 3). On average, one hour of swimming consumes more Calories than an hour of running at a similar level of effort.
Even if you swim at a leisurely pace, you'll still burn one 500 kcal/h.
The exact consumption depends on your body weight and the intensity of training. Swimming is a perfect alternative to running.
Running is part of high-impact sports. Your entire musculoskeletal system, but especially your lower extremities, are struggling. walking on the other hand, it has less impact on your body.
Running is therefore the second most injury-sensitive sport in the Netherlands every 1,000 hours of exercise (field football stands at number 1).
While it allows you to train intensively and challenge (if you want), swimming is part of the low-impact sports. Joints are not stressed, your entire body is supported by the water, so that your weight is removed, as it were. The injury risk of swimming is minimal.
Partly for this reason, swimming is one of the few sports that you can practice safely even in old age.
So are you looking for a fun all-round sport where you run little risk of injury?
Do you love playing football but do you think it's time for something else that puts less strain on your muscles and joints? Then swimming is definitely the safer, super fun choice!
Benefit 3. Swimming is healthy
If you swim regularly, your whole body (and mind) benefits. Swimming works like a total body makeover. We can only name a few of the highlights of this.
Muscles: You train all major muscle groups intensively without stressing your joints. Also muscle groups that you normally don't train are put to work. Due to the intensity of your training and the choice of a certain swimming style, you can build even more muscle mass in a targeted manner.
Joints: They are minimally stressed, but benefit greatly from swimming. The resistance of the water massages the body and ensures improved blood flow. This can reduce muscle and joint pain.
Cardiovascular System: When you swim, you control the level of effort. When you take it easy, you will especially relax, which has a positive effect on your heart and blood vessels. Because you lie more or less horizontally in the water, your heart, for example, does not have to pump as hard.
If you go for a sporting challenge, do you benefit from the effects of so-called aerobic training.
With these types of training, you can lower your cholesterol and, in the long run, reduce the risk of
cardiovascular problems.
Condition: Swimming is an excellent low-impact cardio sport. You can work at your own pace and train as much and hard as you want. In addition to your muscles, joints and heart, your lungs also benefit. Swimming increases your lung capacity little by little. Your condition will get a big boost this way!
Rehabilitation: The injury risk of swimming is low. What's more: if you're recovering from an injury, swimming is one of the few sports you can still do. Please consult with your doctor or physiotherapist which sports/exercises are currently suitable for you.
Efficient: In contrast to many other sports, swimming is highly efficient. Just 15 minutes of swimming will give you a big workout. Have you ever swum in a Swim for 15 minutes?
After this short workout, you are very exhausted. Do you want to try this out? Come then test swimming!
Do you sit in the office or in the car almost all day? Then fifteen minutes of swimming is an incredibly fun way to swim before and/or after your busy day (or at lunch?) nice to work out and relax.
Wash off the stress and swim away your stress!
Benefit 4. Good for your mental state
No matter what pace you're at, swimming is always relaxing. It all starts with the fact that swimming is one of the few sports where you can't carry your phone. No phone calls, no chats, no social media — be offline is a breath of fresh air for your mind.
If you choose to swim in open water, swimming also offers the chance to enjoy to enjoy nature.
The water carries your body and provides a light massage. Your muscles and joints relax and therefore relax you too mentally.
This nice feeling is enhanced by the improved blood flow of your entire body, including your brain.
This has positive effects on various areas of your brain that, for example, play a role in taking initiative and motivation.
The movement makes your brain go more neurotransmitters produce such as endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Endorphins and serotonin are powerful anti-stress hormones. Serotonin is also important for mood, impulse control and self-confidence
Dopamine promotes motivation and attention. It activates the reward center in your brain and makes you feel even better and satisfied after swimming.
Benefit 5. Swimming can help you sleep
People who exercise regularly sleep better than non-athletes. The human body needs a certain amount of physical effort during the day to sleep relaxed.
While swimming, you can easily lose all your energy, at your own pace and at your own level. If your body has had enough (low-impact) exercise, you'll enjoy a deeper sleep.
Your heart rate, digestion, and body temperature increase while swimming. Will you relax afterwards? Then these values fall to a lower level than in people who do not exercise.
That's why you also fall fall asleep faster.
In addition, the effects of, among others, the happiness hormones. You feel confident, less stressed, in short: happy.
So who doesn't sleep like a baby?
Want to experience the benefits of swimming for yourself?
Swimming is fun and extremely healthy. With a Swimm Intelligent Pool, you can enjoy the water 24/7; it's up to you to decide the opening hours of your pool!
The Intelligent Pools offer an open-water swimming experience on a super-compact swimming surface. Thanks to their minimal size, our swimming pools fit into (almost) any garden and the swimming fun is anything but small.
Experience it for yourself. Dive into the world of Swimm!
