What’s So Good About Swimming?

National Senior Health & Fitness Day is May 27th

• Swimming is good exercise (that’s obvious). Swimming is a lifetime sport that benefits the body and the whole person! But what is it that makes swimming good, specifically? That depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

• Swimming is a healthy activity that can be continued for a lifetime - and the health benefits swimming offers for a lifetime are worth the effort it takes to get to the pool.

• Why do you swim? For the health benefits to your heart and lungs? For the chance to be with some of your friends at the pool? Because, in your case, running everyday hurts?

• Regular swimming builds endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness. Swimming with increasing effort to gradually increase your heart rate and stimulate your muscle activity is easily accomplished in the water.

• Swimming does burn calories at a rate of about 3 calories a mile per pound of bodyweight. If you weigh 150 lbs. and it takes you 30 minutes to swim one mile (1,760 yards or 1,609 meters), then you will be using about 900 calories in one hour.

• Spending time in a group workout, whether water aerobics or a master’s swim practice, is a great social outlet. Exchanging stories, challenging each other, and sharing in the hard work make swimming with others a rewarding experience.

• There are other psychological benefit to swimming, if you allow it to occur. Relax and swim with a very low effort. Let your mind wander, focusing on nothing but the rhythm of your stroke. This form of meditation can help you gain a feeling of well-being, leaving your water session refreshed and ready to go on with the rest of your day.

• Swimming does exercise almost the entire body - heart, lungs, and muscles - with very little joint strain. It is great for general fitness, just not a great way to drop excess pounds.

How To Get Started

Most Cities and towns have Recreation Centers. Many of these if not all offer a wide range of fitness and social programs for people 50 and better that change each season. Some even have facilities just for Seniors, like the Chandler Senior Center in Arizona.

There are also websites that can help you find a Recreation Center in your area.  Such as Silver&Fit.com a fitness and healthy aging program designed to help you achieve better health through regular exercise. The Silver&Fit Programs include membership at a local participating fitness facility, Web site resources and support from Silver&Fit’s toll-free member services hot-line and Web site. Additional features may also be included based on your Silver&Fit membership.