CHENNAI: Whether you want to exercise or cool off, it turns out that the best place to do it is your local pool. It won’t raise your blood pressure as high as your AC bill. The backdrop of blue makes for a super selfie. And the best part, this is probably the only activity where ‘getting sweaty’ does not come into the territory.
Although, to be clear, swimmers do get dehydrated, which is why you will often find yourself thirsty, despite being surrounded by water. Health benefits aside however, Dr Parathasarathy Srinivasan, head of the orthopaedic department at Dr Mehta’s Hospitals, points out that one of the biggest advantages is that this is a ‘low impact’ sport.
As an endurance athlete who has participated in a triathlon or two, he states, “Running has lots of impact on the knees and back. Swimming on the other hand has nearly no impact at all.”
This means that an obese individual who would be putting excess weight and pressure on his joints while on the treadmill could have the same cardio session in the pool, with no risk of pain later. For this reason, Dr Parathasarathy recommends swimming to everyone from a patient with a fracture to those in recovery from spinal surgery!
It’s good for weight-shedding too — a strong 30-minute butterfly speed session can burn 150 more calories than running a 5K in the same time.
Relieving muscles from soreness and keeping the joints supple, an hour in the pool apparently also softens your skin just as well as a luxury cream. So much so that coach B Girish of the Turtle Swim School lets on, “We ask everyone to cut their nails. The slightest brush against your neighbour in the water can cause a cut.”
As for those whose fears go well beyond skin deep, the best way is take a friend along and face the deep blue together. Shamshad, a 31-year-old mother of two told us she had never set foot in a swimming pool until recently. “I was always scared I would drown,” she admits, adding, Shamshad, “I want them to look up to me and not be the mother who makes her kids swim but can’t swim herself.” So she took the plunge… in the four-foot pool! A week later, she made it over to the deep end.
“I told my coach: ‘If I drown you better save me, I have a husband and two kids,’” she laughs. From the smile on Shamshad’s face, it’s obvious he never had to.
Health Benefits
Swimming is a great workout because you need to move your whole body against the resistance of the water
It builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness
Keeps you cool and by swimming you don’t lose your cool as often, as it also alleviates stress
If you have asthma, swimming not only helps reduce these symptoms but studies have shown it can improve the overall condition of the lungs
Do’s and Don’ts in the pool
Always shower first. The pool is not your bathtub!
A swimsuit is an essential. A salwar suit may reveal less skin, but it will weigh you down
Cover your hair with a swim cap. This prevents the pool’s drains from getting clogged
Avoid visiting your neighborhood pool if you have a fever or an open wound
Make sure your kids only attempt a dive with an experience swimmer present. Often, children endure head injuries or broken necks because they overestimate the depth of the pool
If you want to teach your toddler to swim, try getting your hands on a waterproof diaper
Spitting, farting, peeing in the pool are not as fun when you are on the receiving end of water in your mouth
