The benefits of swimming as a form of exercise are well documented. And of course we all know swimming is fun as well. But for most people, having a swimming pool in their backyard or home is simply out of financial reach. Or perhaps there just isn’t enough space available. That’s where the lap pool comes in to solve both problems.
Whether you’re talking about a full size lap pool, or a smaller 5 foot version where you swim against a current, the fitness benefits cannot be denied. And chances are this is the one piece of exercise equipment you will use at every opportunity. Best of all, it can provide an almost perfect workout.
We’ll start with the cardiovascular benefits. Just like running on a treadmill, track or on the street, swimming will increase your heart rate. This will naturally burn off calories and increase your endurance and overall heart health.
And while running is good, swimming is better for one big reason. When you’re done swimming you don’t have to worry about aching knees or feet. The water is low impact, which means there’s no constant pounding on your joints. The health benefits are the same or better, and you eliminate the aches and pains.
Taking it one step further, you’ll also get some of the benefits of lifting weights. Weight lifting is resistance training, and water also gives you resistance. The end result is you also build strength and muscle tone. Olympic athletes know this, and have added swimming to their workout regimes. But even though you’re not an Olympian, you can certainly enjoy the same health benefits.
So what’s all this going to cost? Well it’s not cheap, but it’s not nearly as expensive as buying a traditional pool. And as for the space, if you get one of the smaller ones where you swim against the current, you can put it just about anywhere, even in your house. No more worries about bad weather interrupting your workout routine.
If you should decide on a full length pool placed in ground and in your back yard, you’re not only getting a place to exercise, but a place to entertain as well. Get an above ground pool and you’ll likely be able to take it with you if you decide to move. Most of them are easily portable. And because of their size, they are relatively easy to maintain and keep clean. Not only do they cost less to get, they cost less to run as well.
If you’re looking for a piece of exercise equipment, doesn’t it make sense to get one that does everything? Your exercise should give you a good cardiovascular workout to burn calories, but with minimal chance of injury because it is low impact. Your exercise should also provide some resistance to build strength and muscle definition. Swimming will do all of that. Throw in the fact that a lap pool will fit almost anywhere, is easy to maintain, looks great and won’t throw you into the poor house, and there’s really nothing else you could ask for. Except maybe for your exercise to be fun, and you’ll have a hard time finding someone to tell you they don’t like to swim.
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