Health Benefits

Swimming can be considered as a whole body exercise with various health benefits. Regular swimming builds endurance (cardio-vascular fitness), muscle strength and like any other exercise burns calories, i.e. about 900 calories in one hour if you swim two miles depending on the individual.

However, there are some very specific advantages of swimming: one is that the person is almost weightless in this environment (you weigh only 1/10th of your normal body weight) and therefore offers a great exercise opportunity for people who find it difficult to walk or cannot run, i.e. with orthopaedic problems. Other advantages of swimming include a low risk of injury, massaging effects due to the physical properties of water and the fact that water offers a natural resistance in all directions of movement.

Swimming is considered as one of the best exercise for people with asthma as the air is always warm and humid in a pool and can therefore prevent an asthma attack – unless you are sensitive to chlorine. Breathing out against the water resistance helps to widen your bronchi when your head is under water. Above all swimming is one of the most relaxing physical activities.

People with severe cardio-vascular conditions should consult their doctor before going swimming as the increased pressure when submerged can cause problems.