Monday, February 16, 2009

The Lap Pool - A Perfect Way To Exercise

By Ned Dagostino

The benefits of swimming as a form of exercise are well documented. And of course we all know swimming is fun as well. But for most people, having a swimming pool in their backyard or home is simply out of financial reach. Or perhaps there just isn't enough space available. That's where the lap pool comes in to solve both problems.

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.

The first way you'll start to get healthy is through the cardiovascular workout. Your heart rate will increase, much like it would if you were running down the street, on a treadmill, or on a track. You'll be burning calories and increasing your endurance at the same time. So it's great for heart health and weight control as well.

And while running is good, swimming is better for one big reason. When you're done swimming you don't have to worry about aching knees or feet. The water is low impact, which means there's no constant pounding on your joints. The health benefits are the same or better, and you eliminate the aches and pains.

But there's an additional benefit to swimming. The water provides resistance, and that means an increase in your strength and muscle definition. It's similar in some ways to resistance training by lifting weights. That's why so many Olympic level athletes now make swimming a part of their daily workout. The good news is that you don't have to be an Olympian to get identical fitness benefits.

So what's all this going to cost? Well it's not cheap, but it's not nearly as expensive as buying a traditional pool. And as for the space, if you get one of the smaller ones where you swim against the current, you can put it just about anywhere, even in your house. No more worries about bad weather interrupting your workout routine.

A full length in ground pool lap pool in your back yard however also has the advantage of giving you a place to entertain. An above ground model won't be as attractive, but it does give you portability. If you decide to move to another location, you can always take it with you. Plus the size of a lap pool means they are easier to clean and maintain, and as less expensive to run than a traditional pool.

What exactly do you want from your exercise? Chances are you want a cardiovascular workout to burn calories, but one that won't hurt your joints because it's low impact. You also want to tone your muscles and increase your strength through resistance training. A lap pool will do all of the above. Add in the fact that it's low maintenance, doesn't cost too much, is attractive and can fit just about anywhere, and you have exactly what you need. And best of all, it's so much fun you may even forget you're exercising. - 15438

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