Category ArchiveSwimming



Swimming Ryan McCall on 26 May 2008

Inground Lap Pools: Enjoyable Fitness

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by Ryan McCall

Swimming pools are useful for many purposes. Many people, when they think of pools, think first of the lush structures provided by hotels and resorts, which exist mainly for recreation. Pools, however, are incredibly helpful in fitness. Aquatic exercise is rising in popularity; likewise, more and more pools are being constructed with exercise in mind.

One big reason for the production of pools specifically for fitness purposes is that swimming is great exercise. Not only is it an exercise which is aerobic, making it similar to walking and running, but the stress placed on the joints in swimming is much reduced since the water supports the body and absorbs some of the impact force. With fitness in mind, special pools have been created, both above ground and inground lap pools among them.

A lap pool is very different from other swimming pools in that it is specifically designed for people seeking exercise and fitness by concentrating on swimming laps. Most lap pools are rectangular instead of utilizing the curvier designs favored by recreational pool owners. Plus, lap pools can be built as narrow as just one swimming lane.

Lap swimming is a gentle and effective exercise that can be done by most everyone. Fitness and muscle tone is increased while protecting joints. And it is a wonderful stress reliever.

Property sizes are often small and there is an increased desire for a healthier lifestyle. A long, narrow, lap pool may be the perfect answer. Lap pools are an efficient size and suitable for most yards because they are much smaller and use hold less water than most recreational pools.

A neat feature to some lap pools is to have a flowing current. A one directional current can be added to both the above ground or inground lap pools. The purpose of this is to provide an endless swimming pool feature. This provides an excellent workout for the avid exerciser as they attempt to swim against the current.

The placement of an inground lap pool is independent of whether it is indoors or outdoors. Having it indoors has the advantage of less sensitivity to outdoor temperature fluctuations, but an outdoor pool can be built to accommodate year-round usage. Having the pool heated is very popular amongst both business and residential owners and will make swimming attractive to people no matter what the season is.

The cost of installing a lap pool depends on the size of the pool and which features are to be included. Usually, a larger pool will cost more to install. Adding features such as heating systems and automatic current will also increase the price. Most people consider the costs of installation to be a small price to pay for the exercise and personal enjoyment that they get from their pools.

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Swimming Ned DAgostino on 15 May 2008

The Lap Pool - A Fun Path To Fitness

by Ned D’Agostino

Like many people, you may have spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars on exercise equipment that you never use. But what if exercise were more fun? Swimming is fun and it’s a great way to exercise, but most people don’t have either the money or space for a full sized pool in their yard. It is for these very reasons that you should look into getting a lap pool.

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 most obvious benefit is to your heart. Swimming provides a great cardiovascular workout. Your heart rate goes up much like it does while jogging on a treadmill, around a track or through the neighborhood. Two good things happen here. You increase your endurance and heart health while at the same time burning calories to help you stay trim.

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.

If you go with a full length in ground lap pool, it can look very nice in your yard and even provide a space for entertaining. On the other hand, most above ground models are portable. If you move, you can take it with you. And both are much easier to clean and maintain, and they cost less to run than the traditional larger pool.

If you’re looking for a piece of exercise equipment, doesn’t it make sense to get one that does everything? Your exercise should give you a good cardiovascular workout to burn calories, but with minimal chance of injury because it is low impact. Your exercise should also provide some resistance to build strength and muscle definition. Swimming will do all of that. Throw in the fact that a lap pool will fit almost anywhere, is easy to maintain, looks great and won’t throw you into the poor house, and there’s really nothing else you could ask for. Except maybe for your exercise to be fun, and you’ll have a hard time finding someone to tell you they don’t like to swim.

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