So you have a backyard pool? Your pool has more health benefits than taking the occasional dip & enjoying with loved ones. Using your pool for exercise can have long lasting health benefits from less stress to potentially a longer life. So let’s take a deeper look into how swimming is beneficial for your overall health.

Water Works Your Entire Body

When you are swimming, your entire body is working. Swimming strengthens your core, raises your heart rate, and engages all the muscles in your back body. Did we mention your arms and legs too?

Regular gym sessions don’t usually work all of your body, unless your are spending 2 grueling hours beating yourself up. Swimming in your pool can do this in as little as 20 minutes! Yes, that’s all it takes. Are you ready to trade in those dumbells yet?

Give Your Joints A Rest

Swimming doesn’t make you choose between a low intensity or high intensity (which is hard on your joints) workout. You get the best of both worlds without having to modify your workout. According to the American Council on Exercise, the buoyancy reduces your body weight by 90%. Which means, you only have 10% of the normal pressure on your joints when you swim! Which also means, you are less likely to be injured. Swimming is also a great workout for those just beginning to workout or people starting back up.

It May Help Arthritis

Many forms of exercise can be difficult with arthritis. Swimming, however, isn’t one of them. Swimming has shown to decrease pain in some studies. Because there is 90% less pressure on your joints, swimmers can enjoy an intense HIIT workout or a more relaxed routine. Either exercise will be beneficial to an arthritic swimmer.

Physically Fit While Pregnant

Pregnancy can be a hard time with a significant amount of stress on the body. Swimming makes it easier to stay physically active while pregnant. It is one of the safest workouts while pregnant. Some studies suggest that women who swam during pregnancy had a slightly lower chance of preterm delivery.

Burn Baby Burn.

Using your pool for exercise is a huge calorie burner. Since you utilize your entire body, you can burn as many calories as jogging! Even if you are swimming at a relaxed pace. Swimming also does not put pressure on your joints like running, so you can swim every single day.

For Example: A vigorous swim for a 155 lb. person would burn 372 calories in 30 minutes! Compare that to a light jog, they would only burn 223!

In short, swimming is fantastic for our health. There are many benefits to water exercise from decreased stress to an entire body workout. So go hop in and get your swim on.