Swimming - for all round exercise

For years, experts have been saying that swimming is great for your health and simply one of the best exercises out there. And now the Government has made swimming for the over 60's free there really is no excuse!

So what really makes swimming such a wonderful exercise?

• it uses almost all the major muscle groups, and places a vigorous demand on heart and lungs.
• it develops muscle strength and endurance, and improves posture and flexibility.
• it is especially useful for people who are overweight, or with leg or lower back problems.
• it is a great sport for people of all ages and all proficiency levels.
• it provides most of the aerobic benefits that running does, with many of the benefits of resistance training thrown in.
• it does not put the strain on connective tissues that running, aerobics and some weight-training regimens do.

Swimming for fitness is gaining in popularity because it is ideal for almost anyone - from competitive types to the physically challenged. Whether you swim laps or do aerobics in the shallow end, swimming is an ideal exercise. Aquatic exercise and therapy are used to treat and prevent several physical ailments.

The buoyancy factor makes swimming the most injury-free sport there is. One of the biggest advantages is flexibility. In water, body weight is 1/10 of what it would be on land. For the elderly, water fitness is safe, fills the need for exercise, increases a body's range of motion and is a low-impact exercise. As physical therapy, it gradually and gently rehabilitates and relaxes muscles and joints that have stiffened or atrophied.

Swimming is a good sport to take up if you would like to increase your muscle and strength endurance. It is also good for increasing your stamina and improving your cardiovascular system by improving the body's use of oxygen and allowing the heart to work less strenuously.

Many leisure centres and pools run beginners and improvers classes which take place when the pool is closed to the general public. Why not investigate the options at your local swimming pool and get a free swimming pass to go with your bus pass!

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