Benefits of Swimming:

Swimming is the ideal activity for people of all ages and physical abilities. When compared to other activities such as running or cycling, swimming gives you the best aerobic workout with the least amount of stress on your joints.

Because the water provides weightlessness, it greatly reduces stress on joints, which practically eliminates the potential of back, knee and other muscular injuries that are common in high impact activities such as running.

While swimming, a person burns calories at a rate of about three calories/mile (per pound of bodyweight). For example, if you weigh 150 lbs. and it takes you 30 minutes to swim one mile, you will burn about 900 calories in one hour!

Swimming provides a total body workout. It not only strengthens the upper body, torso and legs, but also your cardiovascular, circulatory, and respiratory systems.

Swimming can also be a great as a cross-training workout. When used as a warm-up, swimming gradually increases your heart rate and stimulates your muscle activity. After your workout, swimming a few laps can help you cool-down. It moves blood through your muscles to help them recover, and help you relax.

Benefits of Specific Stroke Skills:

1. Controlled breathing leads to developing lung muscles and overall aerobic fitness.
2. Arm pull – This action helps build your triceps, shoulders, chest, and back muscles.
3. Rolling torso – This action helps build your abdominal muscles.
4. Kick – This action helps build all leg muscles.

Sources: Aqua Sphere Fitness and About.com Health and Fitness.