By Kohen Zain
In synchronised swimming, also known as artistic swimming, athletes perform choreographed dance routines while gliding in the pool water. These synchronised dance moves are accompanied by background music. The goal of the activity is to have every team member perform the same movements that precisely match the music without ever letting their legs touch the ground.
Synchronised swimming is a challenging but skilful sport. It offers participants numerous health benefits. Some of these include:
Improved muscular strength
Synchronised swimmers attempt more acrobatic stunts when compared to regular swimmers, which helps them develop stronger muscles. There are numerous pointed toes, twists, and splits involved in synchronised swimming. This will help your organs become robust and active. It also keeps your muscles healthy by isolating as well as engaging them.
Synchronised swimmers need stronger muscles since they regularly perform stunts or lifts that defy gravity inside the pool water. This strength slowly develops with practice. For performing underwater lifts, it is advisable to first practise on land rather than in the swimming pool. Training more on land will strengthen the muscles, making underwater stunts easier for swimmers to perform.
Enhanced aerobic capacity
Skilled synchronised swimmers have the ability to hold their breath underwater for about three minutes. This is a significant feat to achieve underwater. Regular swimmers can also attain this skill by practising synchronised swimming. It will help you increase the capacity of your lungs.
Additionally, this technique can help you maintain the health of your lungs. Your enhanced aerobic capacity will also help you avoid serious health conditions like asthma. The more you train, the better your lung health will become. In the case of people with lung-related issues, it allows them to reactivate and expand their lung capacity, thereby improving their condition.
Increased endurance
Synchronised swimming is very different from the conventional form of swimming. This form of swimming requires you to spend more time in the swimming pool learning and practising different strokes and movements. Athletes practising synchronised swimming spend more than eight hours every day in the swimming pool honing their techniques. So, if you practise synchronised swimming, you will have enhanced stamina and endurance. This will make your swimming performance better than that of conventional swimmers.
The benefits of training in water are quite different from those of doing it on land. Many studies have shown that training or exercising in the water impacts the endurance of the body more when compared to exercising on land. This effect can be further enhanced when practising synchronised swimming.
Increased stamina
Even though experienced synchronised swimmers make the swimming routine look effortless, the training and conditioning required to perform this form of swimming are rigorous. Swimmers must complete their exercises without hitting the ground. They do this by alternating between sculling and eggbeater to change positions and make arm motions. As they move continuously throughout each routine, swimmers work their entire bodies. This will help them to increase their stamina more when compared to regular exercises.
Improved flexibility
One of the most flexible people in the world are gymnasts, and synchronised swimmers are just behind them. If you regularly practise synchronised swimming, your body will become more flexible and limber. This enhanced flexibility will benefit you not only in the swimming pool but also in different activities on land. You will also have better posture and balance. Improved flexibility will also reduce your risk of getting back pain and other injuries.
The effects of diseases that develop with old age, like arthritis, can be combated with the help of synchronised swimming. Many older individuals have claimed a reduction in their arthritic symptoms after they regularly practised synchronised swimming.
Works your brain
Practising synchronised swimming requires you to constantly memorise and recall numerous swimming rules and new splits or techniques. This will help to regularly stimulate and work your brain, thereby sharpening it. Synchronised swimmers may develop new neural connections to memorise new information and retain it for longer. So, practising synchronised swimming regularly is an excellent way to ensure that your brain is engaged and your memory skills improve.
The neurotransmitters in your body work quicker and better when the transmission of signals is strong and swift. Synchronised swimming is a good way to achieve this. You can improve your memory and mental acuity by constantly participating in synchronised swimming. The experienced Pool Builders Ipswich are more than happy to discuss pool installation options.
Improved mental health
Synchronised swimming offers numerous mental health benefits. Swimming helps your body produce endorphins, which are beneficial for calming your mind and relieving stress. All physical activity, not just swimming, causes the release of endorphins, which makes you feel considerably calmer afterwards.
If you routinely participate in synchronised swimming, you will be able to successfully manage your day-to-day stress. You will also be able to combat serious mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders.
Improved discipline
Synchronised swimmers need to be disciplined enough to practise, maintain buoyancy, and keep their eyes focused during the whole routine. They also need good discipline to work in sync with the team. This discipline in the pool will carry over to daily life, making the swimmer disciplined and well-organised in their daily life. It will also help them achieve success in their future lives.
Improved confidence
Attaining success in every field, including swimming, requires confidence and self-esteem. Building camaraderie when swimming with your teammates can boost your collaboration skills and confidence. Your confidence and communication skills will also improve when you interact with swimmers of various ages and backgrounds. Making swimming fun is another way to increase confidence in the water. When practising synchronised swimming, you can have plenty of fun with different moves and splits.
To Conclude
Synchronised swimming is a complicated and tricky exercise. But with proper training and supervision, it can offer you several health benefits. These health benefits include improved physical and mental health, improved cognition, and flexibility. It can also help reduce the effects of diseases associated with old age. All these advantages make synchronised swimming one of the best exercises that keeps your body and mind healthy.
