7 Ways Your Pool Can Help You Build Your Health and Well-being

Can’t Go to the Gym? Your Pool is Like a Mini-Gym, Waiting for You to Jump In

We all know we need to exercise and some of us may even want to exercise but we’re in a season of social distancing limitations. That’s not just another excuse; gyms may be closed or reopening with restrictive guidelines or you may simply not want to go your favorite workout spots quite yet. No matter, you’ve got a solution to exercise: your pool.

Of course, keeping your water clean and clear with FROG^® products is your first and most important on your “to do and maintain” list. An advantage exercising in your own pool offers is that you have no exposure to other people.

Do a Google search for “exercise in your swimming pool” and you’ll have more reading material than you can get through in a day.

You can dive deep into academic research, peruse some lighter fare blogs or explore health and wellness sites that offer water exercises. Whatever you do, we want you to know how beneficial your pool can be and inspire you to enjoy it to its fullest.

From the many thousands of articles, blogs and publications with excellent information on pool exercise, we’ve rounded up 7 ways your pool can help you build your health and well-being, with links for a deeper dive.

1. Boost your immunity

One of the best ways to stay healthy is to be proactive. Do all you can to build your health and boost your immunity, which includes eating well, getting good sleep and exercising regularly. If you do become ill, you’ll be stronger to battle back. It’s a well-known fact that medical professionals recommend exercising regularly, which has been proven to boost the immune system.

2. Swimming and/or water exercise is a 2-for-1

Cardio or weights? You don’t have to decide. When you’re in the pool, you either move constantly or you sink. “Sink or swim” is a cliché because it’s true – that movement elevates your heart rate and keeps it elevated, that’s cardio exercise. Water is denser than air – close to 1,000 times more – and that makes every movement more of an effort, which translates into burning more calories. Swimming can burn anywhere from 200 to 800 calories per hour, making it an effective, worthwhile workout.

Don’t want to do laps? Even treading water burns 223 calories per hour. Whether swimming any stroke or treading water, your muscles will have to fight against constant resistance while you’re in the water.

Want to learn more? Here’s how you can get the most out of your pool time.

3. Low-impact workout, high expectations

Whether you’re in shape, out of shape, injured or recovering from an injury, swimming can help you get in shape or stay fit while taking it easy on your joints. Water resistance makes movements more challenging, so your muscles must work harder, all while reducing impact on your joints.

Swimming allows an advantage land exercise does not. You can swim at higher intensities routinely without feeling wear and tear on your body. For example, you could follow one day’s intense workout in your pool with another the next day – no need to sit out a day to rest and recover. Furthermore, research  shows swimming is better than rest for exercise recovery.

4. Your brain likes swimming

Your body and your brain love swimming. Science supports this. Want to learn more? This article and video will give you scientific facts and hopefully, inspiration and motivation to take advantage of your pool and do a bit of exercise.

Here’s a quick summary: Swimming increases your blood flow, which helps you become more alert, awake, and focused. It releases endorphins, the “feel good” hormones in our bodies. The brain literally lights up after a 20-minute walk, and the same thing happens when you swim.

Swimming increases your lung volume. Why? Because you can’t breathe all the time, you must hold your breath, and this makes your lungs more efficient.

5. Swimming Makes Kids Smarter

Remote learning is challenging, and “endless” summer may not be all it’s cracked up to be. But consider this: children who swim demonstrate more advanced cognitive and physical abilities than other children, according to groundbreaking research led by Griffith University.

6. Swimming reduces stress

While exercise-induced endorphins will do wonders for your stress levels, getting in the water for your workout offers a different level of mood-boosting benefits.

Submerge yourself in water and you’ll find the amount of sensory information constantly coming at you is dulled; outside sounds are cut off. You feel the water on your skin. You focus on breathing. Your body weight is lifted by the water. All of which help bring about feelings of calm.

Exercise – like swimming – has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen immune systems, which could help fight off infection and improve both mental and physical health.

“We know that vigorous exercise like swimming can significantly decrease both anxiety and depression,” says sports psychologist Aimee C. Kimball, director of mental training at the Center for Sports Medicine at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

7. Swimming turns back the clock.

Studies show that swimming helps prolong youth. Regular swimmers are biologically 20 years younger than their driver’s licenses say they are, according to research from Indiana University.

Swimming affects blood pressure, cholesterol levels, cardiovascular performance, central nervous system health, cognitive functioning, muscle mass, and blood chemistry to be much more similar to that of your younger self.

Researchers found that by regularly swimming 3,500 to 5,000 yards (two to three miles) three to five times a week, U.S. Master Swimmers examined in 2004 postponed the aging process, not only for years but for decades. But you don’t have to be a master swimmer, researchers also found that health and well-being benefits start with a minimal amount of swimming.

So take it easy or go hard at it – get in your pool and enjoy some exercise!