It’s February and those resolutions from last month should be in full swing. If you need a little boost to keep you on track, February is a big month for health initiatives. It’s American Heart Month, as well as National Cancer Prevention Month. What does that have to do with See Her Swim? Keep reading!
American Heart Month was started in the 1960s to encourage people to focus on their cardiovascular health. Today, heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the U.S. According to the CDC, physical activity is key in helping people improve their health and prevent heart disease. Exercising also reduces your risk of cancer in many cases. And one of the best exercise activities recommended by the CDC is…(drumroll please)…swimming!
Why swimming?
Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for absolutely everyone. It keeps your heart rate up without adding impact stress on your body. The water supports your weight as you build endurance and muscle strength. Swimming is a great way to keep your heart and lungs healthy, without any joint or muscle pain.
Where to go?
First things first, you’ll need to find a pool. Joining your local Community College, City Pool or YMCA might be a good option. As one of the largest community-based organizations in the country, the YMCA manages over 2,000 pools. Check the lap swim hours so you don’t crash swim lessons by mistake.
Often, local high schools or nearby colleges have hours available for lap swimming. You can usually pay per swim or buy a punch card for multiple visits.
How to start?
If you’re new to the sport, ease into the pool and get used to the water. Bob in place so your breathing relaxes. Slowly swim a lap or two to loosen up your joints. Try using a kickboard to warm up your legs. Basically, just do what feels good in the beginning. There’s no rush!
If you’re already a swimmer, work on keeping your routine consistent this month. Find motivation by training for a warm weather event or working on something new to you like sprinting or distance swimming. Try high and low intensity sets to train your body to know how to work through being tired.
Really?
We get it, it can be challenging to start or keep on swimming in February when it’s cold and gray outside. Check out these tips on how to stay motivated to get in the pool in the winter.
And get yourself a fun new swimsuit for added inspiration and motivation!
