When looking for a suitable sport, the aspiring athlete comes across swimming, among other things. Many professionals advise this especially for the heart and circulatory system and generally say that swimming is best for illnesses. However, before you should get started, the question is justified as to whether swimming is healthy and recommendable for all users. The article therefore deals with all important aspects relating to the topic of “swimming”. In particular, the topics of heart, exercise, swimming for illnesses and swimming for weight loss are covered below. There is also a special focus on the different swimming styles such as front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke with lifeguard training near me.
What should you pay attention to when swimming?
Because swimming is like any other sport or exercise, beginners should start cautiously. The body, muscles, heart and joints have to adapt to the new activity. This is especially true if the swimmer has not done any other sport before and now wants to start with an intensive crawl, for example. If he does too much in the beginning, he will quickly feel his muscles the next day, which will show a real hangover. You should also think about your heart, which also consists mainly of muscle tissue and should be exercised gently. The damage caused by starting too quickly or stopping abruptly can cause major damage, especially to the heart.
Another thing to make sure you do stretching before swimming. This should stretch the tendons between your muscles, which are usually still shortened due to insufficient exercise. As your muscle mass builds up, the tendency to shorten tendons is even greater. That’s why stretching before exercise and sometimes afterwards is very advisable. Most of the time, even after the activity, you will feel like stretching. Then do it and give in to the natural need in a meaningful way.
Also, remember to drink water. Because even when swimming, the actor will sweat and lose fluids without noticing it. Dehydration should be counteracted by taking regular drink breaks.
What swimming methods are there?
The following swimming methods are intended to show the broad possibilities of swimming and the strain on muscles and joints. As a rule, in addition to the heart, the whole body and most of the joints are in motion. Depending on the swimming method, there are still priorities.
- Breaststroke
The breaststroke is of course to be understood symbolically, since the swimmer swims with the breast on the water surface. The back is pointing up towards the sky. With this technique, arms and legs are stretched forwards or backwards and then pulled back wide outwards. The head either stays completely out of the water or dips into the water when stretched forward. It is actually the type of swimming that represents the easiest form, which is recommended for beginners and also for longer swimming.
- Freestyle swimming
When it comes to freestyle competitions, the decision to use the front crawl swimming method is often made. Because it may certainly be the fastest type of swimming, although it is also one of the most strenuous. The head is in the water most of the time and occasionally and regularly comes up to the side to take a breath. The arms are alternately thrown forward and pulled backwards in the water, so to speak, like a rower. With this technique, the legs hit the water while paddling.
- Backstroke
The swimming style of the backstroke is similar to that of the front crawl. Here, however, the swimmer’s chest is directed towards the sky. The face is therefore permanently out of the water, making it easier to breathe. However, the swimmer has the problem that he has to find out how far he has already swum. To do this, he looks sideways or turns slightly forward.
- Butterfly
Butterfly is, as the name suggests, based on the flapping of a butterfly’s wings. In this technique, legs and arms alternately hit the water in parallel. The arm and leg movements are then similar to the crawl or backstroke swimming style, but these take place simultaneously. This form of swimming is also considered to be the most strenuous swimming technique and burns the most calories.
5.diving
When diving, the actor usually swims as in the breaststroke. If he has no other aids such as a snorkel or oxygen device, he has to keep surfacing with his head to get a breath. Children seem to prefer this movement downright. The crawl style of swimming is only found in a similar form in deep-sea divers when diving. Because they also use fins that work best with the paddle movement.
