A healthy lifestyle needs to include some exercise. The question is always - What is the best exercise? The answer is; an exercise you enjoy. Having fun exercising is the best motivator for staying in shape and making exercise a part of a daily routine. If the question is one of what is the best exercise for all around health, one of the best exercises has to be swimming.
Swimming has many advantages over other forms of exercise. Swimming is very aerobic and uses most of the muscles of the body resulting in toning and burning a lot of calories. Top swimmers are legendary for the vast amounts of food that they need to eat to maintain their body weight. Indoor pools also provide a warm welcome break from the winter cold. Swimming can also be a lot of fun.
The greatest advantage to swimming is that the body is supported by the water. For those with injuries or who have weak painful joints due to obesity, swimming provides a way to get a vigorous cardio workout without straining the joints.
It is not important to be a good swimmer to get these benefits. A person who floats and thrashes in the water can get as much benefit as the person who cranks out smooth laps of the pool. Many pools have water aerobics classes specifically for those who are not proficient at swimming laps. The important thing is to add swimming into a regular routine. Pools often have limited hours. This can be an advantage as it forces a person to build a specific pool time into their schedule. Once in the schedule, swimming can become a regular part of the healthy lifestyle. Look to online swimmers guides to find a local pool that works into your life and budget. If there is not a public pool close by, check with a local hotel that has a pool. Some hotels will allow non guests to use their pool at off peak times for a small fee. It does not hurt to ask.
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