I feel empowered when I swim! So many insecurities kept me out of the pool! First was my lack of self-confidence about my body size. I’ll forever be grateful that I was born with skinny genes but I didn’t always believe it was so.
Then I when started needing a cane and then a walker, I thought I was responsible for having multiple sclerosis. It took years to realize that I really am not at fault and reprogramming my subconscious mind was easier when Kimberly Giles http://www.claritypointcoaching.com/ gave me this reading assignment. When the affirmation is read three times a day for three weeks, the subconscious mind will be reprogrammed and we’ll believe it to the core! Kimberly worked with a brain scientist to write this paper and it works with our left brain and right brain.
I am now able to swim 15 laps even though I can’t bend my legs and do the frog kick, the breast stroke is my favorite. My legs are like sticks due to spasticity.
I’ve set goals and I’ll work hard to achieve them yet I’ve let go of expectations. I understand that it is our resistance to “what is” that causes suffering. http://j.mp/expecttations
I will continue to swim two mornings a week and we’ll see what happens from here!
I feel empowered when I swim! And even though I bob in the water like a cork, I can move without gravity holding me down. I’m able to move through the pool by myself! Swimming in the cool pool makes it easy for me to keep my core temperature down while building my muscles.
The resistance in the water is more effective than on land because water is 12 times as dense as air. Every time we swim, we tone the muscles in all major muscle groups, without putting the strain on the connective tissues that other exercises do. Submersion in water creates a more even, controlled resistance on the body. The amount of resistance involved will be relative to the force we are pushing the water with, which allows us to control how hard we’re working with ease. We get our cardio exercise when we swim and also we’re working on an even body tone.
Swimming aids breathing and breath control which lowers our blood pressure. There is a far higher level of moisture present in the air when you’re at a swimming pool. The moisture in the air makes it far easier to breath. Swimming can also help to increase your lung volume and force you to learn better breathing techniques.
Swimming actually boosts endorphins in the body that increase feelings of wellbeing. Studies have shown that swimming produces the same “relaxation responses” as yoga and the stretching and contracting of our muscles can make it even better. http://www.msrelief.com/namaste-yoga-and-multiple-sclerosis/
Not only is swimming a wonderful to way to improve our heart rate and blood flow, the calories used when swimming help maintain a healthy weight. I’ll forever be grateful that I was born skinny genes but for many, maintaining weight is their challenge.
I’ve set goals and I’ll work hard to achieve them yet I’ve let go of expectations. I understand that it is our resistance to “what is” that causes suffering. http://j.mp/expecttations
I will continue to swim two mornings a week and we’ll see what happens from here!
Work out for longer with less stress on your body
Without the weight of gravity, water serves as a great way for people to get a good workout. Swimming is one of the few sports that doesn’t cause any stress to the skeletal system. When you workout in a pool you are far less likely to make contact with any hard surfaces that may put a strain on your body as all of your motions will be cushioned by the protective barrier of the water. Even better, if you’re swimming in a heated pool, the heat will loosen joints and muscles that will help prevent injuries during your workout.
Increases flexibility
Swimming allows you to use many of the bodies muscles at the same time. The strokes that utilize a wide arc such as front crawl target a lot of the arm muscles that are missed in basic exercises, while the scissoring movement made with your legs forces your body to use more of your leg muscles in a plethora of fluid motions. Swimming is also really helpful as a way to elongate and stretch out your whole body as you keep reaching further out with your strokes.
The front crawl – Best for those that prefer more fast-paced swimming as it generates the most force of any stroke. As the front crawl requires such a rapid movement of your arms, going from above your head to down by the sides of your body, you will tap into your fast-twitch muscle fibre potential, which will lead to improvements in your power and speed.
Main muscles used: Chest and lats
Breaststroke – The stroke that requires the most coordination and skill as you have to move your lower and upper body in sync. However, this stroke is not typically performed at great speed, so it’s better for overall strength building and cardiovascular exercise.
Main muscles used: Shoulders, chest and arms
The backstroke – The least intensive of all the strokes, best for a recovery swim between intense workouts at the gym.
Main muscles used: Back / lats, hamstrings
The butterfly – The most difficult and intense of all swimming strokes and by far the most difficult to master. The butterfly will really kick your fat burning into high gear. It’s perfect for boosting your metabolism and is a great stroke to perform as interval training sessions when you’re in the water.
Main muscles used: Chest, shoulders and back
swimming for a good few laps not only helps with your general physical fitness, but it provides a number of other benefits such as breath control and muscle toning. There are few workouts that you can do that offer so many peripheral benefits, allowing you to tone muscle, burn fat and wear Sp