Four benefits of swimming in your life

It has been proven that swimming is one of the most complete sports since in each training session all the muscles of the four extremities of the body are exercised.

Four benefits of swimming in your life
Swimming. Photo by Gentrit Sylejmani / Unsplash

If you are one of those who every morning think: "Today I'm starting to do sport", but the days go by and you don't go to the gym because there's no time, or you don't run because your knees don't work anymore, maybe swimming is the option you're looking for.

It has been proven that swimming is one of the most complete sports since in each training session all the muscles of the four extremities of the body are exercised, which has made it a favorite for children, young people, and adults.

According to former athlete Alvaro Fortuny, in recent years the practice of swimming has become more popular, because of the many benefits. Adults use it as therapy and to keep fit.

Fortuny was part of the Guatemalan National Swimming Team, was a medalist in several events of the Olympic cycle, and was present in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Currently, he leads, along with Melanie Slowing (also a former athlete), the Aquatic Center academies.

Years of experience in sports and working with children give Fortuny the support to share the reasons why swimming is important in people's lives, especially the knowledge of basic aspects from childhood.

Complete sport

It has always been considered one of the most complete sports because it involves a large number of muscles in each training session. It keeps the cardiovascular system in shape and prevents obesity. Like any other sport, swimming a balanced diet is important to achieve the expected results, as well as discipline, because it is a sport of many sacrifices.

Safety and precaution

Currently, 60 percent of the people who swim in the academies are children, while 30 percent are adults, and 10 percent are infants. However, the percentage of people over 18 has been growing, because some come for health and others to learn to swim.

Children must learn to swim from an early age, for the safety and peace of mind of their parents and to avoid accidents. In the case of babies, it is one of the best stimulations, taking into account that at 8 months they still have that reflex acquired in the mother's womb.

Benefits

Babies begin to socialize in a comfortable environment, reinforce the cardiorespiratory system and strengthen the immune system. Athletes in swimming use both hemispheres of the brain, which helps with coordination.

Another benefit is that obesity is avoided since many calories are burned. In addition, it keeps the circulatory system healthy; it has even been proven to reduce the level of glucose in the blood, and increase flexibility and agility.

To start seeing results it is important to swim 2 to 3 times a week, the more times you train the faster you will progress. In case the interest is to be in a competitive team, it is necessary to train at least 5 to 6 days a week.

In each training session, you should keep the goal to work hard and enjoy swimming. Learning takes place in phases: first, they focus on survival and safety in the water, that a child can safeguard life and be independent in the water. Then comes the part of learning the different styles, and over time, the competitive part.