Saturday, February 28, 2009

The Lap Pool - A Fun Path To Fitness

By Ned Dagostino

Most people already know that swimming is a great way to exercise. And I'm pretty sure that most people would agree that it's also fun. So why don't more people do it? Well for starters, not everyone has the finances or the space to put a pool in their back yard. However with a lap pool, both space and money become less of an issue.

Basically you have a couple of choices. You can get either a full length lap pool, or one of the small models where you swim against jets of water coming against you. Either way the health benefits are numerous. If you think about it, it's almost like having the perfect exercise machine at your home.

We'll start with the cardiovascular benefits. Just like running on a treadmill, track or on the street, swimming will increase your heart rate. This will naturally burn off calories and increase your endurance and overall heart health.

But swimming is better than running because it greatly reduces your chance of getting hurt. It's low impact, so there's no constant pounding on your joints. That means no aching feet, knees or back. You get all the fitness benefits without all the aches and pains.

Taking it one step further, you'll also get some of the benefits of lifting weights. Weight lifting is resistance training, and water also gives you resistance. The end result is you also build strength and muscle tone. Olympic athletes know this, and have added swimming to their workout regimes. But even though you're not an Olympian, you can certainly enjoy the same health benefits.

I won't kid you into thinking that a lap pool is inexpensive, but it certainly will cost less than putting a huge traditional pool in your back yard. It will also take up less room. And if you go with one of the small models where you swim against a stream of jets, you can probably find room in your home. An indoor pool means you won't have to worry if it's cold or raining, you can still get your exercise every day.

If you should decide on a full length pool placed in ground and in your back yard, you're not only getting a place to exercise, but a place to entertain as well. Get an above ground pool and you'll likely be able to take it with you if you decide to move. Most of them are easily portable. And because of their size, they are relatively easy to maintain and keep clean. Not only do they cost less to get, they cost less to run as well.

Put it all together and you have an almost perfect exercise machine. A lap pool gives you a low impact, cardiovascular workout with a reduced risk of injury. You get resistance training without spending money for cumbersome free weights. And it is low maintenance, reasonably priced, looks great, and won't take up a lot of space. And best of all it's fun. What more do you need from your exercise equipment? - 16083

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