The Lap Pool - A Fun Path To Fitness
Go to: Previous Article Next Article
The benefits of swimming as a form of exercise are well documented. And of course we all know swimming is fun as well. But for most people, having a swimming pool in their backyard or home is simply out of financial reach. Or perhaps there just isn't enough space available. That's where the lap pool comes in to solve both problems.
Lap pools can be either short, about 5 or 6 feet where you swim against massaging jets of water, or full length. And no matter which one you want, you'll get a workout that is almost perfect every time you use it.
The most obvious benefit is to your heart. Swimming provides a great cardiovascular workout. Your heart rate goes up much like it does while jogging on a treadmill, around a track or through the neighborhood. Two good things happen here. You increase your endurance and heart health while at the same time burning calories to help you stay trim.
And while running is good, swimming is better for one big reason. When you're done swimming you don't have to worry about aching knees or feet. The water is low impact, which means there's no constant pounding on your joints. The health benefits are the same or better, and you eliminate the aches and pains.
But there's an additional benefit to swimming. The water provides resistance, and that means an increase in your strength and muscle definition. It's similar in some ways to resistance training by lifting weights. That's why so many Olympic level athletes now make swimming a part of their daily workout. The good news is that you don't have to be an Olympian to get identical fitness benefits.
And while a lap pool is not cheap, it's much less expensive than building a traditional swimming pool. And it will take up less space. Furthermore, if you get a smaller one where you swim in place, you can even put it in your home. No longer will the weather be a factor in whether or not you exercise.
If you go with a full length in ground lap pool, it can look very nice in your yard and even provide a space for entertaining. On the other hand, most above ground models are portable. If you move, you can take it with you. And both are much easier to clean and maintain, and they cost less to run than the traditional larger pool.
If you're looking for a piece of exercise equipment, doesn't it make sense to get one that does everything? Your exercise should give you a good cardiovascular workout to burn calories, but with minimal chance of injury because it is low impact. Your exercise should also provide some resistance to build strength and muscle definition. Swimming will do all of that. Throw in the fact that a lap pool will fit almost anywhere, is easy to maintain, looks great and won't throw you into the poor house, and there's really nothing else you could ask for. Except maybe for your exercise to be fun, and you'll have a hard time finding someone to tell you they don't like to swim.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
- Get Fit the healthy way tons of honest tips and tricks to lead a healthier life, also in progress a guide on how to stop smoking -
Word Count: 539
Reduce Your Debts Without Bankruptcy. See How Much You Can Save. Free Debt Analysis
