3 Ways Swimming Can Boost Your Fitness in 2022

Sophia Belnap

Your physical fitness is always something you can build on and improve. It's also something that changes right along with you through different phases of life. Oftentimes this means what might have worked for you last year might not agree with you so nicely this year, or that you discover something new entirely that delivers better results. 

However, certain types of exercise never seem to lose effectiveness due to their nature. Swimming is one of them. Whether you're looking to lose weight, strengthen your heart and lungs, build muscle or generally incorporate more movement into your life, it could be just the thing for you. Here are three ways it can boost your fitness in 2022.

1. It Can Make You Stronger 

When you think about strength, what comes to mind? Chances are you envision building muscle through weightlifting. While that is an excellent way to become stronger, it isn't the only way. Swimming is an amazing way to build muscle as well.

Swimming against the water provides your muscles with the resistance they need to grow and become stronger. This resistance is also excellent for strengthening your heart and lungs, which is essential to your overall health and longevity. 

To see results, keep in mind that you'll need to make swimming a regular part of your exercise routine, rather than just something you do every now and then. How wonderful would it be to have a pool in your backyard, making swimming workouts part of your daily routine?

There's no question that building a pool is a big commitment and investment. Some quick research on nearby pool financing companies could help you determine the next step in your process, ensuring you're making the best decisions possible.

2. It's Kind to Your Body 

Have you ever participated in a workout or embarked on a new exercise routine only to realize it just wasn't the right fit for your body? Chances are when this happened you felt frustrated or defeated, wondering what to try next. It can also be upsetting to lose momentum or see a decline in progress due to poorly matched exercise. 

It can be tricky to know what's going to work well and what isn't, especially when there are so many programs and trends in the world of fitness. Why not keep things as simple as possible? Swimming is one of the most basic exercises you can do, and it's incredibly gentle on your body — even if you're pushing your limits physically.

The weightlessness of swimming makes it the ideal choice for those dealing with painful arthritis or inflammation, or those dealing with or recovering from an injury. It's also a wonderful workout during pregnancy.

3. It Can Improve Mobility and Flexibility

One of the most important attributes of physical fitness is also one of the most overlooked. Have you checked in on your flexibility lately? You might notice a lack of it here or there — when you're playing on the floor with your kids, when you drop your keys, or when you pop into that yoga class you haven't been to in a while. Also, even if you're comfortably flexible, remember that there's always room for improvement.

Not having healthy mobility and flexibility is difficult. It can increase your chances of an injury not only during workouts but during your everyday routine as well. Swimming is an ideal way to focus on functional mobility and maintain fluid and weightless movement throughout some of the more volatile parts of the body, such as the shoulders, back, and hips. 

Even if you just use a few laps in the pool as your warm-up before another workout, you'll notice an improvement in the way you feel overall.

Conclusion

Including swimming in your fitness routine is a wonderful way to not only improve your fitness, but to become healthier, stronger, and more comfortable overall. When will you make it part of you exercise program?