Swimming is an aquatic sport. It is both an aerobic & anaerobic exercise & an activity that burns many calories. It is easy on the joints, supports your weight and builds muscular strength & endurance. It also improves cardiovascular fitness, cools you off & refreshes you in summer, & is the one that you can do safely even in your old age. If you want to decrease the risk of injury & strain on your body, you should consider swimming.

HERE ARE THE SEVEN REASONS WHY SWIMMING IS THE BEST EXERCISE:

1.  SWIM AND TRIM:

Swimming for an hour every day can burn up to 500 calories. It exercises all the muscles of our body & does not strain any muscle as you swim at your own pace. Research says that the chances of injury due to swimming is low as compared to other forms of exercises including running, jogging, or weight lifting, making it a very safe form of training for obese individuals as well. It increases your metabolism which means you burn more calories with this activity.

1. Decrease body fat 
2. Builds & maintains lean muscle tissue 
3. Increases the body's ability to use fat as a fuel 

2. AEROBIC TRAINING

Swimming is one of the best forms of aerobic exercises as it involves the use of the large muscles of the hands & legs. It benefits the heart & keeps blood pressure normalized thereby, preventing any heart attacks. Swimming can be started at any age & is suggested to individuals with weight limitations.

3. MAKES YOU FLEXIBLE:

Water is one the best mediums in which to increase flexibility. Water has long been known to aid in increasing flexibility due to the many factors such as buoyancy, water resistance, & water temperature. The smoothness of the movements helps in muscle growth & stretching rather than make them bulky, giving an individual, the appearance of a toned, healthy & a strong body.

4. SWIM EVERY DAY AND KEEP ASTHMA AT BAY:

Swimming being an aerobic exercise, it increases your lung capacity. Since water is denser than air, your lungs need to work harder to supply enough oxygen to your blood. This gives your lungs a good workout, making them even stronger. It also helps improve breathing capacity, helps to relieve symptoms of asthma. Children should be introduced to swimming at a young age, to reduce the risk of asthma. 

5. DIABETES MANAGEMENT:

Exercise is a significant activity which should be necessarily a part of every diabetic’s life. Unlike other conventional forms of exercises like jogging & running, swimming gives an extra edge to people with diabetes making it a fun & engaging exercise which can be done regularly. As it is an aerobic exercise, it also improves insulin sensitivity, decreases the fat & helps control your blood glucose levels. People with type 2 diabetes also have an increased risk of heart disease. Therefore, maintaining their heart health & weight is an essential factor for diabetes maintenance. 

6. IT IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH:

Health Swimming is excellent for mental & wellbeing. It can be a relaxing & meditative exercise as it reduces  stress, the weightlessness of water can have a calming effect on the mind. The regular rhythm of the stroke, the immersion in water & concentration on the technique quickly feel like a relaxing meditation in the water. It helps provide a distraction from life to improve mindfulness. Moreover, for many people, it is readily accessible without high gym fees or stacks of equipment. 

7. IT'S GOOD FOR PREGNANT WOMEN:

Swimming can be an excellent exercise for pregnant mothers & the baby as well by strengthening their heart & making it more efficient at pumping blood, improving circulation to your whole body & boosts oxygen levels in your blood. It is one of the safest forms of exercise for expecting moms. It has a low impact & is gentle on your body. The water keeps you from overheating & prevents injury by supporting your joints & ligaments as you exercise, which is especially helpful for moms-to-be with ligament pain. The buoyancy of the water lets you enjoy a feeling of weightlessness despite of the extra weight. It also counteracts increased back strain from your expanding belly. Pregnancy can make your spine & shoulders round forward & tilts your pelvis out of alignment, but swimming gently strengthens the muscles & offsets this tendency. Immersing yourself in water alleviates swelling in your arms & legs making it one of the most fun & safe forms of exercise.