From competitive swimming to hanging out with friends by the pool or lake, this is an activity that is enjoyed by all ages and all skills levels. With all of the focus on the importance of exercise, many people are looking for options they can participate for a lifetime. Swimmers know it is one of those activities. It is a sport that anyone can take part in with a little bit of training.
Many people choose this activity because it is easy on the joints. People who struggle with bad knees or a bad back find the water to be therapeutic. It is a low impact activity that does not cause constant pounding on the joints. The weight loss that comes along with this form of exercise also helps ease the pain of sore joints.
While it is not a weight bearing activity, the benefits you receive are on par with other cardiovascular activities. If you are concerned about bone density you will want to add weightlifting to your routine. It is an outstanding cardiovascular activity.
Many people appreciate the mental rewards as well. As you concentrate on your body gliding through the water and feel the rhythm of the strokes, you will sink into a form of meditation. The body and soul connection will improve your workout and leave you feeling refreshed. It is also a social activity as many of the same people gather at the pool for lap swims, so you will meet new people who are fitness minded as well.
Swimming has been around since the Stone Age. It was referenced in such works as the “Bible” and the “Odyssey.” During the Middle Ages, it was one of the seven agilities of Knights. They even had to swim in their armor. As time moved on and people become more conservative, there was a decline in popularity. Some people felt it was indecent to been seen in so little clothes.
In 1538 Nicolas Wyman wrote the book “Colymbetes” in an effort to prevent people from drowning. The book explained how to perform the breaststroke. Throughout the years different strokes were developed to improve speed in the races that were gaining in popularity. The front crawl was reintroduced to England in 1873 by John Arthur Trudgen. The crawl is still known as the Trudgen crawl.
Captain Matthew Webb was the first person to swim the English Channel, doing so in 21 hours and 45 minutes in 1875. It made its first appearance in the Olympics in 1896, featuring four races. Women were able to compete in the Olympics for the first time in the Stockholm games of 1912.
Beginning in 1928 people began to study the art of swimming. Since that time a mindboggling number of changes have come to the sport. For competitive swimmers, training has become a science. Experts are constantly studying to determine the programs to make swimmers faster. They have studied the effects of diet on the training process as well.
Swimsuits have also evolved. Suits have been created to get the most out of every stroke. Shark skins have been studied to determine what makes them glide through the water so quickly. That knowledge has been transformed into swimsuit technology.
There are several different types of strokes including:
The breaststroke – the arms stay under the water and the legs use a frog kick to propel the body through the water. The head can remain above water during this stroke.
The crawl – There are several different forms of the crawl. Each form using a different kick style. The crawl is the fastest stroke.
The sidestroke – The swimmer lies on his side and uses as scissor kick and brings the arms toward the neck and the back to parallel with the body.
The backstroke – In this stroke the swimmer lies on his back and can use from a variety of kicks and arm movements.
Many of the strokes are simple to learn for beginners whose focus is on exercise. Fortunately for beginners there are several options for learning how to swim. Classes are offered at many locations and feature classes for children and adults. These classes are important to at least teach the participants water safety. Children and adults should be trained to swim well enough to save themselves.
Many people like to swim competitively whether it is a swim meet or part of a triathlon. Others prefer to swim for fun. With the increased focus on healthy living, more and more people will get involved in this sport.