Here at Origin, we are passionate about swimming. We believe it’s an important and enjoyable way to bring people together especially as all ages can participate. Across the country swimming remains one of the most popular activities especially now that public swimming pools have reopened. It’s an incredible form of exercise with a long list of health benefits, both mental and physical. So, what are the specifics?

1. It can help people suffering from mobility issues. As swimming places less stress on the joints it makes exercise more comfortable, meaning swimming is ideal for anyone suffering from joint and muscle pain or musculoskeletal conditions. As water naturally supports you, it can reduce your moving body weight by up to 90%, this reduces the stresses and impact on your joints, muscles and bones by the same 90%.
2. Swimming regularly can help reduce long-term health conditions. The benefits of this amazing physical activity have been proven to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and even dementia.
3. Swimming can improve your mental health. Over 1.4 million adults in Britain feel swimming has significantly reduced their anxiety or depression and nearly half a million people have stopped or reduced their medication due to the effects of swimming.
4. It is one of the easiest forms of exercise you can do. Anyone aged 19 to 64 should be doing at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week but with a vigorous activity, such as fast swimming, this can be slashed to 75 minutes each week.
5. It’s a great form of exercise that will improve muscle mass. Swimming provides a constant resistance, even more so if you invest in a resistant swim device, meaning your muscles are taxed hard eventually resulting in toned arms, thighs and upper body.
6. There’s more than one way to do it. The variety of swimming techniques is almost neverending, there are so many different strokes to choose from meaning your workout won’t ever get boring.
7. Swimming can make you smarter! The Griffith Institute for Educational Research studied 7000 children under the age of five to see if swimming would affect their intelligence levels. The research showed that children swimming at an early age could master skills earlier and had superior motor skills and were more adept at mastering skills like language and mathematics when compared to children who didn't swim.
8. You can build stamina. Generally running or cycling usually burns more calories than swimming but swimming keeps your heart rate up without placing too much stress on your body. This type of exercise is known as steady-state training and helps to build stamina.
9. It reduces stress and makes you happier. Having time in the pool gives you the space to work through any stress or worries, in fact the movement of water over your body creates a massaging sensation which encourages you to relax. Just being in water increases blood flow to the brain, releasing endorphins, boosting your brain health and overall mood.
10. It gives you an escape. Swimming is one of the few sports that demand you leave the outside world where it is, outside. You physically can’t scroll through social media or get sucked into a Netflix binge in the pool, so it’s great for giving the mind time to power down away from constant digital stimulation.

There you have it, regular swimming can make you smarter, fitter and happier. To find out how Origin can help you become your best self, email info@originpools.co.uk or call 01895 823366.