Go ahead, dive into one of the best whole-body exercises there is: swimming! Swimming for fitness not only checks the box for both cardio exercise and strength training—a nice two for one—it’s also a great choice no matter your level of fitness or ability.

Now that the kids are back in school, you can get away from sitting by the sidelines and jump in to the deep end. You’ll find that there are a number of fitness benefits associated with swimming, some of which you may not have known.

Low Impact = Low Pain

Swimming is a low-impact activity that is easy on your joints, bones, and muscles. That makes it a terrific option if you are just getting into exercise. If you have physical limitations due to age, pregnancy, injury, arthritis, or other health issues, you can still reap the benefits of the pool.

But what if you’re not a beginner? If you already have an active workout routine, swimming for fitness still fits the bill. That’s because it’s low impact, which means you can work out longer—and harder—with less wear and tear on your body. Better still, believe it or not, swimming is better for exercise recovery than rest. So instead of taking a vacation day from the gym after that next tough workout, why not go for a swim?

Cut Back on Some Stress

You’re a busy professional who is being pulled in multiple directions. Even carving out time to get to the gym can be a challenge some days. We get it. Lucky for you, it turns out that swimming for fitness is a real stress buster. Not only do you get the benefits of exercise and the release of all those feel-good endorphins, you get a bona fide mood boost from the water itself.

The best-selling book Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, in, on, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do details how water is proven to inspire relaxation and make you happy. When you take time for a few laps, you get a brain break while you get a body boost.

Test the Limits on Your Muscles

Even if you’re a gym rat, there are likely muscles your aren’t engaging on a regular basis. When you supplement your routine with swimming for fitness, you engage many underused muscles simultaneously with the ones you typically workout.

Your stabilizing core muscles and lower back are two hot spots you’ll strengthen while swimming for fitness. Plus, you’ll activate and tone those tougher-to-target and often-overlooked areas such as your deltoids, trapezius, and lats.

Get a Big Boost—Inside and Out—with Swimming for Fitness

You don’t have to choose between cardio and strength training to get fit. That’s because swimming gives you both! It’s a total body workout, and it even boosts your brain. As a dedicated lap-lover, you’ll see the outward results, including a trimmer waist and more toned silhouette. Inside, you’ll get the heart-healthy benefits of a cardio workout. And you’ll get a whole list of other perks from swimming, including an increased resting metabolism, better balance, improved bone health, and even better sleep.

So grab some goggles and jump into swimming for fitness this fall. When you’re done, indulge yourself with a fun float on that giant pink flamingo—because the kids and grandkids won’t be around to post you on Insta!

Create Lasting Results with Bodify

Exercise and a nutritious diet are part of your healthy lifestyle. And now that you know the benefits of swimming for fitness, it will be too. CoolSculpting can be part of that mix as well. It’s a safe, proven, lasting way to firm up those stubborn areas that need a little extra help. You know the ones: batwings, belly fat, and under the chin. No amount of swimming will help with those.

Contact Bodify, Arizona’s #1 CoolSculpting boutique. It’s all we do, so we can ensure that you will have an amazing experience that meets your goals.