Yes, yes and yes! Swimming develops strong core muscles, which are necessary for good balance control. What are core muscles? The Reader’s Digest version explains that these muscles control your spine, abdominals, waist and lower back. You need good core muscles to perform everyday activities from housework to sports, and even when you bend over and stand up. Falling is a major problem for older adults. Not me, of course, as I am standing in the river called Denial. Snort and giggle. Some falls can cause broken bones, head trauma (no running at the pool!) and other severe injuries, but even less serious falls can hurt your mobility. The Centers for Disease Control states that one in three adults aged 65 and older falls…
Posts tagged “benefits of swimming”
Swimming is for life. Need more proof? Look no further. Speedo’s model of the year for 2015 is…. Jurgen Schmidt, a 91 year old Masters swimmer. Yes, that is correct. No, Speedo did not pick some 20 year old buff super-jock. Speedo selected 91 year old Jurgen Schmidt from Huntington Beach, California. He swims about a mile almost every day at Masters swimming and competes in a number of Masters meets every year. He is a retired comptroller for a meat packing company and will turn 92 years old this month. His advice?-“Don’t be afraid to get in the water.” In the interview with Speedo, he is asked, “Why do you swim at 5 AM?” He answered, “In the afternoon you have water walkers…
Oh my goodness…people ask me this all of the time. You know what I am going to say. If I only had a nickel for every time someone asks me these questions. Yes, swimming is one of the best exercises that you can do for yourself. Swimming is low impact, great for your entire body – heart, lungs and muscles, and contributes to very little joint strain. Swimming is wonderful for general fitness and health. To lose weight, you must use more calories than you eat through a combination of controlling your food intake and increasing your exercise routine-like doing more swimming. The pool director where I work has the greatest line I ever heard. When he says, “Barbie, it’s all in the fork,”…
Tagged: benefits of swimming, fitness, health
The other day, I was sitting on the bench at the pool, waiting for my students to arrive. I watched people who could barely carry their grandchild’s swim bag to the tot pool. I wondered how they arrived at the pool with the kids. Huffing and puffing, they hobbled over to the bleachers. I know most of these grandparents and most of them are younger than me! What happened to them? Bon-bons and soap operas? You know that old saying “use it or lose it”? We must move and move every day. I have an idea…turn off the TV!!! Just sayin’. The first place you should move to is the doctor’s office to get the green light. He will be delighted to see you.…
Tagged: benefits of swimming, couch potato, health, mental strength
In USA Weekend, February 28, 2014, I read an article written by Judy Foreman that said that although chronic pain is often hidden from the front pages and TV screens, it is Americans’ biggest health problem. Chronic pain also is the number one reason why people go to the doctor-more than cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined. Many people, including many physicians, are unaware of the growing number of available non-narcotic treatments: including exercise!!! Many sufferers are terrified that if they move, they will damage themselves, but nothing can be further from the truth, according to this article. “To date, there is no scientific evidence that activity and exercise are harmful,” says James Rainville, a spine and rehabilitation specialist at New England Baptist Hospital…
Tagged: benefits of swimming, fitness, health, swim facts
–Swimmers gain muscle strength throughout their bodies. Who knew? Yes, swimmers use their legs and arms and tighten their stomachs to power the legs and stabilize the core. We have all seen Michael Phelps’ tummy and booty. Need I say more?? –Swimming helps you stay flexible. It’s really important that you can bend over and tie your sneakers. Ya think? You’re not wearing flip-flops right now, are you? Tip: Unless you work at a pool, step out of the flip-flops. Flip-flops are not walking shoes and can do more harm than good. But back to swimming. When swimming, you MUST reach, stretch and pull your way through the water (unless you’re doing the “human stroke,” formally called the doggie paddle). Your ankles and feet…
Tagged: benefits of swimming, health, swim facts
