Swimming

Swimming is one of the most enjoyed, accessible and popular of all sporting activities.  Before babies can crawl they can enjoy time in the water, and later in life when physical activity outside the water presents it challenges, the buoyancy of being in a pool supports the body to move and exercise. 

Because all age ranges and sexes enjoy time in the pool it is a favourite family pastime as well as being a crucial life skill.

For obvious reasons, unlike other sports, swimming doesn’t have a known origin.  One might reasonably assume prehistoric folk swam in rivers not necessarily for sport but certainly while fishing.  The Ancient Egyptians had a hieroglyphic symbol for swimming, dating it back to at least 2500 AD.

There are lots of reasons why swimming is so great; if you’re on a weight loss programme it’s a higher calorie burner than walking or cycling at the same intensity, if you want strength and tone it genuinely exercises every muscle in the body and if you want to improve your endurance it ticks that box too as regular swimming strengthens the heart and lungs. Plus if you’re a little agitated a water workout is also a proven stress reliever.

To participate in swimming obviously requires little more than a costume and access to a pool but if you want to get more out of the sport the equipment is really affordable, transportable and can make a real difference to how long you stay and how much you enjoy your time in the water.

Most pools are chemically treated so good swimwear is made of a fabric that will endure longer than fashion beachwear items and also streamline the body for a more efficient and effective swim.  Likewise swimming caps are a great investment as they reduce friction and protect your hair from the chemicals – they’re also very popular with pre-work dippers who want a quick turnaround between pool and office. 

Spending long periods in the water can also antagonise eyes, ears and noses.  Protecting them with goggles, ear plugs and nose clips respectively takes the annoyance factor out.

If you regularly use communal pools it’s sensible to protect your feet with pool sandals or socks.  These will last you years and protect you from the sport’s most undesirable risk – veruccas.

And if you’re teaching your young ones or are a late comer to the pool yourself there’s plenty of kit to help you learn and to develop your confidence such as buoyancy aids, dive sticks and snorkels.

So for very little investment you can get a great deal more out of your swim.  We say dive in!