The Many Benefits of Swimming

Getting yourself in the pool and doing regular lengths has multiple health benefits. It may be a low impact exercise, but don't let that fool you, swimming is a fantastic calorie burner, helps to reduce stress levels and lowers your risk of a host of different diseases.

As well as this, it strengthens muscle, helps you to sleep better and can help boost your overall mood. All of this without getting hot and sweaty in a gym!

Whether you’re doing a gentle breaststroke or go full out with the butterfly, it works a range of different muscle groups all at the same time giving you a full-body workout. Also, exercising in the water makes your muscles work harder than on dry land. So 30 minutes in the pool is like 45 minutes in the gym – bonus!

Getting those lengths in is also a fantastic way of burning calories faster. Even a gentle swim can burn up to 200 calories in half an hour, more than double the amount than you would burn by walking and if you swim at a reasonable pace, more than running or cycling.

jumping into the water is just great for your mental wellbeing.Just 30 minutes of swimming, three times per week, will significantly lower your risk of heart disease, stroke or being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes.

There’s a reason why swimming is so popular with athletes who’re recovering from long-term injury. The water supports up to 90 percent of your body weight which means that it is a great way to stay active while you’re waiting for any other sporting or fitness-related injuries to heal.

Lastly, jumping into the water is just great for your mental wellbeing. Many studies have shown that swimming regularly can reduce anxiety and depression and just 30 minutes of swimming up to three times per week can improve your mood, giving you a more positive outlook on life and help you to relax and improve your sleeping pattern.

The good news is, you don’t need to be pounding the water doing hundreds of lengths at great speed to get these benefits. Even a gentle swim brings results.

If you fancy getting in the pool and doing your bit for charity, the annual Swimathon fundraiser takes place from 27-29th March and here in Perthshire we are lucky enough to have four Live Active Leisure venues partaking in the Swimathon this year:

• Live Active Blairgowrie
• Strathearn Community Campus
• Live Active Loch Leven 
• Perth Leisure Pool

You can enter at any of these venues here >>>

Swimathon

Starting in 1986 and has been running annually ever since, Swimathon is now the World's largest fundraising swim.  It takes place at participating pools right across the UK to help raise much-needed funds for their charity partners which this year are Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.

The Swimathon is suitable for any fitness level and can be completed individually, as partners or with a team - you can even choose your own target! 

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If you're kids LOVE being in the water, Live Active Leisure have a whole range of holiday camps for your little paddlers this Easter Holidays including these swimming specials:

Swim Club Ready: This camp will make sure you have the right swimming skills, techniques and lane discipline to make sure that you are swim club ready! You must be able to swim 100m to attend this camp.

Swim Skills: These crash course lessons are 30 mins long and cater for non-swimmers through to those looking to improve their swim skills. For details on swim level criteria please contact your local Live Active pool.

Find out more >>>