Page 106 - Women’s Health - Australia (February 2020)

F

For a nation of water lovers, have
you ever stopped to think how
strange it is that more of us don’t
swim for fitness? The latest AusPlay
survey found that for Aussie women
aged 25 to 44, swimming trailed
behind gym sessions, walking,
running and yoga as the exercise
of choice. We’d like to change that!
Because swimming is the power
workout you’ve been chasing. With
a kJ burn to match Barry’s and the
mental relaxation of yoga, your
nearest expanse of water is nothing
short of a lean, mean fat-burning
machine. Why not take the plunge?

Probably because you resistance of the water.
don’t really know how. (The energy burn of
While there are countless swimming is about four
couch-to-5k run plans times that of running the
and treadmill-based same distance.) “You’re
workouts online, there constantly using your
J u s t a d d
isn’t much advice on core for balance and w a te r
how to smash swimming. rotation,” adds Pickering.
“Most people know The amazing flip side
breaststroke or freestyle, is that very same water
but they don’t have the supports your body,
skills to swim for any which makes swimming can be beneficial who led the study. While
length or duration of time low-impact, gentle on for everything from over in the UK, a Swim
– so they fail to recognise the joints and ideal if increasing lung capacity England report states
swimming’s fitness you’re on the comeback to improving balance, that swimming for half an
potential,” says former from injury or illness, and a study published hour three times a week
world champion swimmer or pregnant. Plus, in the American Journal can lower stress levels
Karen Pickering. swimming’s horizontal of Physiology found that and improve sleep.
But it’s a legit body pose may also help it even improved brain It’s also a form of
burner. Swimming improve posture and health. “Brain blood meditation for Olympic
builds muscle, boosts alleviate back pain in a flow was higher when gold medallist and 2018
endurance, tones your way that running and subjects were immersed WH Sportswoman of
body and tears through cycling can’t. Boom. in water up to their the Year Cate Campbell.
kilojoules due to the It’s not just the fitness heart, compared with “There is something so
fact it puts all your gains that are worth on land,” says Dr Howard peaceful about diving into
major muscle groups diving in for. Research Carter of the University the cool and quiet of a
to work against the has found swimming of Western Australia, pool,” says Campbell. “I

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