24 October 2022
The benefits of swimming and why you should do it
I love swimming. Do you?
I am not a professional swimmer. I have a phobia of putting my face in the water too. However, that doesn’t stop me from swimming and loving it. I grew up near the lake/river. I used to swim there every day in the summer. I used to walk/run to the lake, which is about 5min and jump in for a swim. I used to feel like the world was mine. I felt powerful and in control.
Water is magical to me.
Photo by Marcis Berzins on Unsplash
It has been proven water has calming effects on the mind and body. The water is powerful for the mind and body. I always loved being in the water and by the water. I never knew why. Maybe I am a fish…?
Since ancient times, humans have assigned healing and transformational properties to water. In early Rome, baths were an important part of cultural life, a place where citizens went to find relaxation and to connect with others in a calming setting. In ayurveda, the ancient Indian medicinal wisdom, and traditional Chinese medicine, the water element is crucial to balancing the body and creating physical harmony. Rivers have long been seen as sacred places, and in a number of different spiritual contexts, water has symbolised rebirth, spiritual cleansing and salvation.
When I am in the water I feel like nothing is impossible. I feel like I am on top of the world. I can do anything and everything. All I do is swim. Swimming is so powerful it’s ridiculous.
Yesterday, I jumped into a cold pool. I swam for a little while. Afterward I was on a high! Swimming gives you a natural high! At first, it baffled me, how on earth am I so happy, excited, jumping up and down… Apparently, cold water swimming does that to you.
Swimming in cold water improves circulation! Do you know Russian tradition? Russians love to have a sauna called banya and then jump into a lake or cold water. That’s so good for your body!
Photo by Fezbot2000 on Unsplash
I just do swimming. The reason it’s cold because our pool is not heated and it’s only the beginning of May. Usually, in Spain, the pools are open in June. I am not waiting for June. I am swimming now.
Swimming is low impact and super high intensity. It keeps my heart rate up all the time while I swim. It teaches me endurance! The body becomes a lot stronger. To build endurance is super fast too! I don’t need to wait long before I can do more swimming. For example, when I started to swim after one lap I was out of breath.
I kept on going and I did more and more laps. It only took me one day. I feel so much stronger physically.
I always lose weight when swimming. Always. It’s a fast way to lose weight for me. I don’t know how it works but I always shed a few kilograms.
‘An hour of swimming burns almost as many calories as running, without all the impact on your bones and joints.’ From Healthline
I hate running with a passion. I was never good at running. I am not a good runner and I will never be. Swimming, on the other hand, I absolutely love. I love it! What does swimming give me I love so much…? Here are a few pointers…
- Swimming will give you a natural high and keep you happy throughout the day.
- Swimming will give you strength and will build endurance.
- Swimming will give you better sleep.
- Swimming will give you toned muscles.
- Swimming will give you a lean body.
- Swimming will give you great lungs.
- Swimming will help you build a strong immune system.
- Swimming will give you beautiful arms.
- Swimming will give you a fabulous body because you work hard when swimming.
Swimming is good for you! Let me be clear I never had a swimming lesson in my life. I don’t even know how I learned to swim. All I know is I swim. If I was to bet on it, I learned to swim in the lake near my mum’s house. However, I have no memory of it at all.
Photo by Nicole Reyes on Unsplash
All I remember is the actual swimming. I’ve never thought something so simple can give so many benefits. I hate exercise with passion. Swimming is the only exercise I love. I have so much pleasure being in the water. I could say I love to exercise then…?
There’s one pain with swimming and that’s the hair. I love to do back strokes too. If I want to do that I have to wet my hair. I have to wash it and it’s such hard work. However, this is a little sacrifice to pay for huge benefits. I know swimming is not for everybody. However, everybody should give it a try. Swimming having that many benefits it should make the laziest person to try.
Will you jump in and swim with me…?
Love and light!
About the Writer:
Erika Chaudhary has worked for many corporates such as Samsung and then at marketing agencies in London working as a marking expert. Now, runs her own business Delcalifa in Barcelona. She also is a web developer, writer and into being anything healthy. Writing has always been part of her life and she has been writing for many years. Only in the recent years she started to share her work. She’s working on her first book right now.
