Why swimming is for life, not just for summer.
Read our published article: ‘Why swimming is for life, not just for summer’ in ABC Magazine Surrey.
During the summer months when our skies are blue and the sun shines, more of us find ourselves enjoying the water in comparison to any other time of the year. Perhaps, you spent every day in the pool whilst holidaying abroad? Or, did you take advantage of the sea during one of our heatwaves? Maybe, swimming was a fun activity with the children during the school holidays? Regardless of why, I’m confident the experience was one or all the following: Refreshing, relaxing, enjoyable, fun. So why is it, many of us treat swimming like a seasonal novelty?
Swimming is undeniably a lifesaving skill, but it’s often overlooked as an essential life skill. Swimming takes time, patience and commitment to truly master so it’s worth asking, why we don’t give it the priority it deserves in our daily lives? After all, the benefits of swimming span every stage of life.
Babies enjoy being in the water. Water provides a multi-sensory and unique experience promoting both cognitive and physical development. Scooping and pouring water can be calming, making a splash can be exhilarating and moving in water can be freeing. Parent and baby swimming lessons are a great introduction providing children comfort and safety in the water, building familiarity and confidence whilst also strengthening the caregiver/parent-child bond through physical closeness and a shared activity.
Children are naturally inquisitive and are drawn towards water play. Swimming lessons encourage children to explore the water and to try new skills, building both confidence and independence in a safe environment. Swimming also supports healthy growth and development by strengthening muscles, improving balance, coordination and boosting cardiovascular health. Equally important, group swimming lessons offer positive social interactions that show children swimming is a fun and enjoyable activity. These early experiences are crucial in encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle and may influence continued participation in swimming as an adult.
The benefits of swimming continue throughout adulthood. Swimming is suitable for all with many adults enrolling in swimming lessons and programs. In water exercises can be changed easily to suit all abilities. Like other forms of exercise, swimming improves well-being by reducing stress and therefore enhancing mood. The repetitive and rhythmic action of strokes combined with controlled and timed breathing offer a mediative, calm presence. Swimming strengthens the body; it is a full-body workout engaging major muscle groups, improving strength, endurance and flexibility. All whilst, being gentle on our bodies. Water supports our body weight meaning our joints carry less load compared to other land-based activities where the forces on our joints can be up to triple our body weights. Water also provides a level of resistance as we move through the water but without the jarring impacts which is why swimming is often recommended by health professionals to individuals who have mobility issues and/or are injured.
Whether for fitness, therapy or leisure, swimming remains one of the few activities that truly meets the needs of every generation offering a unique lifelong combination of physical health, mental well-being and personal safety. Whether it’s signing up to swimming lessons, joining a local aqua aerobics class or taking the children swimming, it’s time to appreciate and take advantage of all swimming has to offer. Go on, dive in today – one swim at a time.