SWIMMING: AN ENJOYABLE AND FUN EXERCISE FOR EVERYONE

When we say exercise, swimming is always on the list. Some people loves’ swimming. During summer time, here in the Philippines and elsewhere, swimming is always the number one popular activity that a family wants to do together. They may go to the known beach resorts, rivers, lakes, and swimming pool resort. It is a good bonding with a circle of friends or workmates.

What is swimming?

Swimming is a fun activity that will make us fit and healthy. This kind of exercise can make our body stronger and improves our blood circulation.

Swimming is also a competitive sport. We can watch it during sports feast and during the Olympics.

It is good for everyone of all ages learn how to swim. It will be a help if we know how to swim when there are flash floods.

What else can we do if we know how to swim?

We can do other sports on water if we know how to swim. We can do scuba diving, water polo, fishing, sailing, body boarding, triathlon, jet- skiing, snorkeling, synchronized swimming, underwater diving, waterskiing, and surfing. These are exciting sports that we can enjoy, but we have to first perfect our swimming skills because these sports are all done on the sea or on the ocean.

What are the basics of swimming?

For beginners, it is advisable to know the basic strokes of swimming. Look for a professional swimming instructor or an expert of swimming that will guide you more on doing the strokes properly.

The most common strokes in swimming include butterfly, crawl, breaststrokes, sidestroke, dog paddle, and backstroke.

Butterfly technique is fast, graceful, and powerful.  Swimmers move their both hands forward simultaneously. The arms arching forward from the shoulders and hitting forcefully the water.

Crawl is also called freestyle which all of the other strokes can be used. It is said to be a freestyle stroke because it is used in a freestyle swimming events. It is also an efficient and fastest swimming technique. The swimmer will lie on the water as they are facing the bottom of the pool. One at a time, the swimmers move their arms forward in a circular motion while kicking their legs and moving their heads side to side.

Breaststroke is said to be the most relaxing stroke and the easiest for beginners. However, those professional swimmers who are competing find it difficult because when they have swum using this stroke at a fast pace, more energy is being used compared to other strokes. Swimmers bent their arms sweeping outward from the chest and back to the chest again.

Sidestroke is slower than the other strokes because it generates fewer forces. It was not good to be used in any swimming competition. Swimmers kick their legs in a scissor-like motion as they use their arms to move themselves.

Dog paddle this basic stroke is good for novice swimmers. The swimmer will keep their head out from the water as they cup their hands and move their arms in a circular motion underwater while kicking their legs.

Backstroke is used by swimmers as they swum looking upward, but at the same time, they cannot see their direction. Breath technique is not necessary since the face is on the water surface. It somewhat crawls stroke motion. The only difference is that swimmer will lie with their back on the water. They swim with their arms backward in a circular motion while kicking their legs.

Everyone must try this kind of exercise because aside from its benefits like physical fitness, healthier body, and to use in saving the life when someone is drowning in the water, it is also fun and enjoyable.