Swimming is one of the best sports around for those interested in keeping fit. It not only provides a great workout, it does so with a dramatically reduced incidence of injury compared to sports like running.

Swimming provides a full body workout.
No matter what stroke you prefer, swimming uses all the muscles in the body. Additionally, it places extra emphasis on the upper body and on your core muscles compared to sports like running.

The water provides natural resistance.
Working out in water means your body has to work harder. A 30 minute work out in the pool is worth as much as 45 minutes of the same activity out of the water. This means it is an efficient means to get great results.

It is low impact.
If you have joint problems that prevent you from running, you can still swim. The water provides natural …show more content…
If you like to work out with others, you can do it that way too. Whichever you prefer, swimming is flexible in that regard and it can be as social as you want it to be.

It is for all ages.
From young to old, swimming provides a great workout for all ages. This makes a form of exercise that you can sustain well after other things have become a problem and must be retired.

It's peaceful and relaxing.
Many runners put on headphones and listen to music to try to drown out the rest of the world. Although you can do the same thing as a swimmer, most swimmers rely on the sound of the lapping waves and the fact that their head is under water half the time as a great way to unplug and forget their worries. Swimming regularly has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

It's a great way to lose weight.
The extra resistance the water provides means you really burn up the calories when you are in the pool. In fact, a slow pace of swimming burns calories more than twice as fast as walking. Faster swimming paces burn calories better than either cycling or running.

It improves respiratory