subject: Strive For Better Fitness And A Better Lifestyle With A Swim Spa [print this page] All of us know we should strive for greater fitness and a better lifestyle. We all know that we should probably exercise more and eat better and swimming is one of the best ways to exercise, but it isn't not always convenient or possible to go swimming!
Even if you could own your own swimming pool, the maintenance costs alone are staggering, not to mention if you want to heat the water so it is actually usable in the colder months! One alternative that a lot of professionals are turning to is swim spas.
These are jacuzzi sized tubs that push a fairly strong current against you, which allow you to swim against them. Sometimes called Swimming Machines, swim spas work on the principle of counter-current swimming. Whilst this may sound technical and confusing, all it means is that simply there is a strong current in the opposite direction to the way you are swimming!
The resistance of the water prevents you from swimming too far forward and so you are essentially swimming on the spot. It's like a swimming treadmill!
Yet unlike a treadmill, which can actually cause a lot of serious damage, as can all walking, swimming in this way helps build and tone muscles. It also really ditches any excess weight, as you are swimming against a controlled resistance perfect for your swimming ability. This means that you can always swim at a pace and speed that suits your swimming ability.
Most are powered by pumps, propellers or paddle wheels. Pumps are often criticised of creating too much 'chop' and making it awkward to swim in them properly due to the water coming back on itself.
As such, propeller and wheel powered swim spas are far more commonly available, as they greatly reduce these problems. They create a far smooth water current, making it much easier and more enjoyable to swim in.
Swim spas are in some regards fairly similar to a standard hot tub. They often look similar, and are commonly built from the same high quality materials. So much so that quite a lot of quality swim spas are actually hot tubs too. This dual purpose greatly increases the usability of the swim spa, turning it from an exercise tool to a social and family enjoyment.
As for exercise, water based aerobics are incredibly low impact. What this means is there is no 'jarring' like you get while running on a treadmill or jogging. Your body is not hitting down on the ground, instead you are getting a full workout no matter which direction it is you move in. This helps prevent sports and exercise related injuries, as the resistance is far easier and gentle on your limbs.
It's easy to get started in a swim spa, simply turn up the current to a level you are comfortable swimming against and then swim away! If you are a fairly inexperienced swimmer, or are just starting to exercise then you can even walk or run against the current in deeper models. This provides all the resistance without the need to swim.
