🏃 Sport & fitness
Swimming
A few lengths in the pool, or the lake in summer: swimming does the body good and goes well with company. Afterwards, the coffee at the poolside tastes best of all.
Exercise that spares the joints
In water, buoyancy carries the body, taking the load off joints and spine – ideal for anyone who finds running too hard on the knees. At the same time swimming works almost every muscle, and trains the cardiovascular system steadily. That combination of gentleness and effect makes swimming perhaps the healthiest endurance sport there is.
Lengths in the pool, or a day at the lake
In winter you swim your lengths indoors; in summer the lake or the open-air pool beckons. Both go beautifully with company: you swim your set and meet afterwards at the poolside or on the grass. It is precisely that afterwards – a coffee, an ice cream, a chat in the sun – that turns a session of training into a proper get-together.
Technique makes the difference
Swim cleanly and you get further on less effort, and spare your neck in the process. Even small corrections to your position in the water or your breathing rhythm pay off. In breaststroke it is worth watching for a relaxed head position; in front crawl, regular breathing to the side is the key. A technique course is money well spent.
Tips for getting started
- Watch for a relaxed head position in breaststroke – it spares the neck.
- Swim steadily rather than fast; stamina builds over the distance.
- At the lake in summer: never swim far out alone, and watch for currents.
- Tie the training to a fixed slot – the poolside makes it easy to arrange the next one.
Frequently asked questions
Is swimming a good full-body workout?
It is. Swimming works almost every muscle group at once, while buoyancy takes the load off joints and spine.
How many lengths make a good session?
That depends on your level. For beginners, twenty to thirty minutes of steady swimming with breaks is a good start.
Swimming near you
Find people with the same plan right now – or invite others to a meet-up of your own.
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