Swimming is a fantastic way to exercise because of its low-impact and all-body workout. And even though the pool’s open, do you feel like you can only swim four laps before you’re huffing and puffing? Here are some tips to ease yourself back in the water.
Warm up outside the pool. Take a five-minute brisk walk to warm up your body. This is better done outside the pool than in, because the pool can cool your body down faster. Then do some gentle stretches.
Warm up in the pool. Go slowly, particularly in the first few days of swimming, and take breaks as needed. Have a kickboard and a buoy on hand to isolate just arms and just legs.
Go for a swim. Rather than focus on speed or quantity of laps, focus on stroke technique and breathing. Correct technique will make the workout less tiring and avoid injury, while working out the muscles properly. Use a mix of strokes to work out different muscles, in any order that makes you comfortable.
Cool-down. Do some dynamic stretches afterwards and in the warm shower, to avoid letting your muscles cramp up in the cool pool water.
Within a short period of time, you’ll start to notice a difference in your ability to swim longer and farther.