Are you tired of almost every exercise but want to stay fit? Have you ever thought of swimming? If not, let’s do this now! Swimming, we all know, is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that strengthens the heart and the brain. Swimming is a pure blend of resistance, endurance, and cardio.
No matter what your age is, you can challenge yourself in a zero-gravity environment. From better memory to stress relief, there are buckets full of benefits if you make swimming a regular practice.
Here are 10 reasons why swimming is the best brain exercise:
1. Calorie Burning
It won’t be wrong to mention that swimming is a calorie-burning machine. Swimming can blast up to 400 to 600 calories per hour. That’s the magic of swimming. The number of calories you burn while swimming depends on your body weight and the distance and speed at you swim. You should swim on a regular basis for an hour if you wish to lose weight and improve overall flexibility.
2. Improves Cardiovascular Health
When you swim, your heart and lungs have to keep pumping oxygenated blood throughout your body so that you can keep moving through the pool. That is why you feel a bit short of breath after a swim. Studies have shown that those who make swimming a regular practice reduce the risk of heart diseases.
3. Improves Underworked Muscles
Nearly all your muscles are used while swimming. From the abs, back, and shoulders to hamstrings, glutes and other underworked muscles, swimming gives the body’s muscles a good workout. No matter what stroke you swim, you use all your muscles to move your body through the water.
4. Gives Better Sleep
Swimming has the power to help you take a better sleep at night. Older people who deal with insomnia can try swimming as it can surely boost their quality of life and sleep. Many swimmers have also acknowledged the fact that swimming sessions leave them feeling happier and more relaxed.
5. Stress Management
This is an overly connected world, therefore our mind often asks for a break. Swimming can be a great way to disconnect and immerse yourself in solitude. Your body releases endorphins when you exercise. Being in water calms and relaxes your body and your mind. Swimming is like moving meditation.
Also Read: Meditation: The Ultimate Solution To An Entrepreneur’s Stress
6. Improves Flexibility
Despite the fact that swimming doesn’t stretch you as effectively as yoga, the range of motion involved in it lengthens your muscles which eventually leads to making your joints more flexible. When you swim, your arms and legs are moving, your hips are engaged and your spine twists, thereby bringing more flexibility.
7. A Life-saving Skill
Swimming is undeniably a life-saving skill. You learn to float, swim, and tread water. If you learn how to swim, you can not only save yourself but also others from drowning. People of any age should definitely learn how to swim and try making it a regular practice.
8. Safe Exercise for People With Injuries & Other Conditions
Swimming is usually considered a safe exercise for people with:
- Arthritis
- Disability
- Injury
- Other issues or problems that make heavy exercises difficult
People with injuries may experience relief from their pain. Since the buoyancy of the water reduces the load on the joints, you can challenge your body and improve fitness without worsening your pain. When you swim in water up to your belly button, the weight of the body reduces by about half.
9. Improves Mental Well-being
Your brain is where your emotions and cognition live. A healthy brain means good mental health and to maintain that, you can surely try swimming. Scientific research has proved that swimming benefits your mental health and well-being as it releases endorphins in your brain. These are the hormones that make you feel good and increase positivity. Being in water also increases the blood flow to the brain hence improving and boosting brain health.
Besides that, the colour ‘blue’ is associated with calmness. Therefore, being underwater makes you happier and healthier. It’s a natural phenomenon to feel positive when you’re by the sea or near water.
10. Fun Activity
Swimming is a fun activity. You can easily socialise while you take your swimming classes with other people. What’s better than a workout which does not feel as gruelling as sweating away on a hot summer day? People of all ages can surely urge themselves to try swimming to experience the absolute fun.
Swimming Is A Must-Try!
Now that you have understood the benefits of swimming, you should surely give swimming a try. Swimming is good for your body and your brain as well. It’s a win-win situation.
