5 Health & Fitness Benefits of Swimming

Cheap Stress Reliever Keeps You Safe & Slim

This year when we watch the London Olympics roll around most of us will be in awe of the swimmers' athletic prowess, but it's surprising how few Canadians actually swim for fitness despite this and other examples of its physical benefits.

Statistics Canada data shows that only 2% of Canadians regularly swam in 2005.This number is growing as more and more people are finding the benefits of swimming.

Top Five Benefits of Swimming.

1. Swimming uses all muscle groups.

Holding your body flat in the water while moving forward uses most of the muscles in the body. To float and to swim you need to use your core muscles. Constant motion of arms and legs while breathing efficiently is a valuable cardiovascular workout.

Since there are 4 different strokes and each stroke uses different muscle groups, a workout that includes each stroke will use all your muscles. Swimming is also a great calorie burner - between 200 to 700 calories an hour. The added resistance from the water will help you burn more calories per minute than running.

2. It puts Minimal pressure on your joints.

Swimming does not pound your joints as you move, unlike running, nor does it force extra weight on to your body as with weight training. The water puts little pressure on the joints so it is a great exercise for people with knee, wrist, shoulder, ankle or hip injuries or for those who need to avoid joint pressure.

3. It's inexpensive.

Swimming pools are generally inexpensive, and often offer other amenities like hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas and gym use, all for one admission cost of less than $5.

4. It reduces stress.

The concentration needed for swimming helps you focus on your breathing and coordination, which helps take your mind off of work, home and other stressful distractions. You have to be focused while swimming so that everything else on your mind just flows behind you in your wake and the water erases the day's worries.

5. Swimming is a life-long safety skill.

Many people with backyard pools or who live near lakes, rivers or the ocean want to feel safe in water over their head and in current and tidal scenarios. Others also want the assurance that if boating, boarding, surfing, or on a seadoo, they'll be able to tread water, swim to shore, or generally stay afloat until help comes.

Swimming is a skill that can save your life or the life of another and the Red Cross swimming lessons and life guarding certificates will offer CPR and rescue skills as well as basic help with strokes.

In addition to the main benefits of swimming it is also fun, offers a variety of workout options, and will keep you in top shape, Olympics or not. Swimming could be a fun new way to mix up your fitness routine to follow through on your New Year's resolutions..