Swimming Tips

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

06 Jul 2006 10:30 AM

Swimming is such a great activity during the summer that we sometimes forget that swimming is a great way to build and maintain fitness. It's also a great way to build up your muscle strength because water provides natural resistance for your muscles that you have to push against whether you are walking or swimming in the pool. If you want to take advantage of time spent in the pool with the kids as part of your workout routine, here are some tips to get the most out of your pool workouts:

• Haven't really swum in a while? Take some swimming lessons because a lot of beginners and returning swimmers waste energy in splashing around as they swim back and forth
• Break your swimming up - don't dive in and expect to do 10 laps right away, start off slow and warm up in the water with a couple of laps of easy swimming, then perhaps a couple of laps of picking up speed and finally a couple where you push it all out, then step it back down again
• If swimming laps isn't your thing, consider joining a water aerobics class - many fitness gyms and community swimming pools offer fitness water aerobics - check out your local YMCA for opportunities too
• Check out a swimming club - you can set a great example for your child by maximizing your fitness at the same time you are working on your fun - for both you and your little one

Since swimming uses a lot of oxygen and works muscles throughout the body, be sure to build up. Swimming is great because it can minimize body stress damage - specifically to your joints - but you can overdo it swimming the same way you can in every other area. Try swimming on top of the water as well as below so that you can regulate your breathing.

If you get dizzy while swimming or experience headaches, muscle cramps or more - take a break. The point is to build fitness, not do yourself injury. Have you used swimming as part of your fitness program?

Related Articles:

Exercising this Summer? Take Care

Baby & Swimming

Setting a Summer Schedule

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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