Masters Swimming

WHY JOIN MASTERS

Why Join Masters Swimming

There are many physical and mental benefits of swimming. One may choose swimming for a range of reasons; it keeps muscles strong and flexible, it engages several different muscle groups and the cardiovascular system providing an excellent workout, it burns calories and helps with weight control, improves sleep, boosts moods.

Individuals between the ages of 19 to 64 years of age should get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week. Strength training should be included. As water is 800 times denser than air it provides both a cardiovascular and resistance workout.

The benefits include but are not limited to;

Engages your whole body

  • Increases your heart rate without stressing your body,
  • Tones muscles,
  • Builds strength,
  • Builds endurance,
  • Each stoke focuses on different muscle groups with water providing gentle resistance. Most muscle groups used in each stroke.

Engages your cardiovascular system

Appropriate for people with injuries, arthritis, and other conditions

  • Safe exercise option for issues that make high impact exercise difficult,
  • Safe exercise option for people with disabilities,
  • May help reduce pain or improve recovery from an injury.

Good option for people with asthma

  • Humid environment of indoor pools, though some studies do indicate that disinfectant chemicals used in pools can make symptoms worse,
  • Breathing exercises associated with swimming may help expand lung capacity and breathing control.

Beneficial to people with MS

  • Makes limbs buoyant, helping support them. Water provides gentle resistance,
  • Study resulted in significant reduction of pain and improvement in symptoms like fatigue, depression and disability.

Burns calories

  • Swimming is an efficient way to burn calories. A 160-pound person burns approximately 423 calories an hour swimming laps at a low to moderate pace. The same person may burn up to 715 calories and hour at a more vigorous pace.

Improves sleep

  • Swimming may have the power to help you sleep better at night. A studyon older adults with insomnia, participants reported both a boost in quality of life and sleep after engaging in regular aerobic exercise.

Boosts mood

  • Exercise has been shown to boost mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety and stress,
  • Exercise can increase the production of endorphins, which are known to produce positive feelings and reduce the perception of pain ,
  • Diving in the water is one of the best stress reducers, while all exercise is anti-stress, swimming seems to provide an extra level of calm – Mayo Clinic,
  • Can boost confidence,
  • Masters Swim Clubs are social, you get coaching and camaraderie.

Safe during pregnancy

  • There are no adverse effects of swimming in chlorinated pool while pregnant ,
  • Pregnant women who swam during their early to mid-pregnancy had a lower risk of preterm labor and congenital defects,
  • Keep in mind that while swimming is generally considered safe during pregnancy, some women may have activity restrictions due to complications in pregnancy. Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise programs during pregnancy, and if you have complications, ask about activities that are safe.

Accessible and Affordable

  • Swimming may also be an affordable exercise option compared to some others, like cycling. Many pools offer reasonable rates to join. Some public schools and other centers offer swim hours for free.
  • Swimming in a lake or ocean may be an attractive option. Always take safety precautions, such as ensuring supervision, when swimming in open water,
  • Requires minimal equipment,
  • Great skill to have,
  • Can extend beyond mental and physical fitness, may even be lifesaving,
  • If young or old, athletic or just starting out, there’s a swim workout for everybody.

Fun and varied

  • People tend to get bored with repetitive exercise, but there are many ways to keep swimming interesting,
  • There are several strokes to master and a variety of equipment to use.

Sport Information Resource Centre in Ottawa, Canada, published an article on the benefits of participation in Masters Sport to healthy aging. Read the complete article HERE .