Swimming

So you want to get moving, but the thought of going for a run is appalling, you don’t have a bicycle and, at this point, you’re all out of ideas. This is typical for many people who find it hard to get motivated or excited about working out regularly: the excuses usually outweigh everything else. It would help if there was an activity that you could get excited about and for people who are comfortable in the water, swimming could be just the ticket to help you maintain weight and peace of mind. I want to give you a few reasons why getting back in touch with your aquatic ancestry could be a boon for your health: 

• Whole body workout: as you glide through the water, you are working out muscles you don’t use on a daily basis. The natural resistance of the water builds and tones muscles and can burn up to 500 calories an hour. 
• Breathing better: swimming simply makes your respiratory system work harder. Water is denser than air which means your body must work harder to capture and supply oxygen to the body. As you swim more, you will establish a new, better baseline of breathing.
• Less impact: as far as aerobic exercise goes, swimming is the one with the least drawbacks. Running (and cycling to a certain extent) is an activity that causes repetitive trauma to the joints, especially in the knees and spine. Swimming has all the aerobic benefits without the trauma.
• Good for the mind: being buoyant feels great. Tension lifts, gravity is partially suspended and your joints and muscles revel in the feeling. Simply being in water is linked to improvements in mood for both men and women.

Swimming can be as vigorous or slow-moving as you like. The point is that you are using your body regularly. For help on finding the right workout to get yourself moving, give our office in Houston a call and schedule an appointment today. 

Dr. Randall Holmes, D.C.