The Lap Pool - A Fun Path To Fitness

The Lap Pool - A Fun Path To Fitness

Ned D'Agostino

The benefits of swimming as a form of exercise are well documented. And of course we all know swimming is fun as well. But for most people, having a swimming pool in their backyard or home is simply out of financial reach. Or perhaps there just isn't enough space available. That's where the lap pool comes in to solve both problems.

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.

We'll start with the cardiovascular benefits. Just like running on a treadmill, track or on the street, swimming will increase your heart rate. This will naturally burn off calories and increase your endurance and overall heart health.

But swimming has one huge advantages over running. Because it is low impact, you will not have the aching knees, feet, joints and back that many people feel after a lengthy run. There's no constant pounding, yet you still get all the fitness benefits that running can provide.

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.

I won't kid you into thinking that a lap pool is inexpensive, but it certainly will cost less than putting a huge traditional pool in your back yard. It will also take up less room. And if you go with one of the small models where you swim against a stream of jets, you can probably find room in your home. An indoor pool means you won't have to worry if it's cold or raining, you can still get your exercise every day.

A full length in ground pool lap pool in your back yard however also has the advantage of giving you a place to entertain. An above ground model won't be as attractive, but it does give you portability. If you decide to move to another location, you can always take it with you. Plus the size of a lap pool means they are easier to clean and maintain, and as less expensive to run than a traditional 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.