Can Yoga Help Swimmers Improve?

Olympic swimmers, including American gold medalist Natalie Coughlin, attest to the many benefits of yoga. The following are the performance improvements provided by yoga:

Image source: swimswam.com

Flexibility 

One of the most common reasons swimmers practice yoga is to improve their flexibility. The strokes and the leg kicks take their heavy toll on the shoulder and the lower limb. With yoga, the range of motion of joints can be increased, easing the burden the movements cause on these body parts. Yoga can also lengthen muscle tissues and release muscular tension, giving them greater integrity and strength. 

Body awareness 

Swimming requires a high level of body awareness, with every movement pattern, from the maintenance of the body line to the entry of the fingers in the water during strokes, being critical in swimming speed. Yoga helps athletes develop technical proficiency in this aspect. 

Recovery

Swimming is one of the most taxing sports; an hour or two of hard practice can result in tightness and stiffness of muscles or aches in joints. Yoga, particularly restorative yoga, can allow the body to recover more quickly than usual. 

Mental strength

This sport is as mentally challenging as it is physically. Psychological stability may mean gaining or losing seconds in the pool; and in a race, every second counts. By practicing yoga regularly, one gains the ability to regulate his or her emotions, reduce anxiety, and relax mentally.

Image source: swimswam.com

Bob Mims, CPA promotes the importance of staying healthy, and believes that one way of doing so is by regularly swimming. Follow this Twitter page  for more discussions on sports training.

Stay Fit For Life: Sports For Seniors

The most common problem seniors have when working out is that their bodies can sometimes no longer handle the stress.  The joints and muscles aren’t as sturdy as they used to be.  But this shouldn’t stop them from exercising.  Here are some of the best exercises for senior citizens that aren’t as high impact as the rest, but effective nonetheless.

Swimming

If everyone had a swimming pool to do laps in, what a wonderful world it would be.  Swimming is the perfect full-body exercise for many reasons.  This goes double for seniors.  The activity itself is low-impact, and the water aids in alleviating joint and body pains.  It’s good for the heart and lungs, which is essential for seniors.

Image source: seniorplanet.org

Golf

There are two fantastic things about golf.  First, it affords a person to walk long distances and get fresh air.  These are low-impact activities and are good for the lungs, heart, and easy on the joints.  Second, to play golf, one has to keep proper posture, which helps senior from hunching. 

Image source: ponokagolf.com 

Cycling/Spinning

It doesn’t matter whether you are cycling outdoors or attending a spinning class, getting on a bike and pedaling do have amazing health advantages.  Another low-impact exercise, cycling is great for muscle development and heart and lung health.  Although, many people still prefer doing it outdoors to get the most of fresh air.

Former basketball coach Bob Mims, CPA, is a firm believer in the importance of physical activity in long-term fitness. A few of his favorite fitness routines include yoga, swimming, and the P90X. For similar reads, click here.