There are a few reasons why swimming is excellent as a cross training workout.

The first reason and perhaps the one that separates it from other cross training activities such as running is that swimming offers consistent and even resistance during the workout. By that I mean that the water is acting against your body as you attempt to swim through the water. This resistance offers the benefits that light weight training offers without the jerking motions, inconsistencies, and straining frequently seen with use of free weights.

Another reasons that swimming is great is because it is obviously a full body workout; you are using all of your body muscles to control and move your body through the water. Most swimming forms require good control of your body thus leading to use of many muscle groups. Resistance is also acting on all of these muscles. Also swimming can be incredibly relaxing and soothing since you are essentially cooling off your body while you workout as the water rinses away sweat. This soothing feeling is also due to something I will address in the next point.

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of swimming as a cross training activity is that it is extremely therapeutic and can be done by those who can not take the hard impacts of running or the jerking motions of weight lifting. Swimming is often used as a physical therapy treatment because the small resistance offered by the water is consistent and thus allows aching, injured joints to move fluidly and steadily through the water. There is also practically no impact associated with swimming whereas in running your joints, bones, and muscles are under constant stress from your feet pounding the pavement. The therapeutic benefits of being in water also allow muscles to relax more easily and can relieve tension better then high impact activities.

While swimming can be a relaxing experience it also doubles as an incredible cross training activity that works many muscle groups, relieves joint and muscle problems, gets your heart pumping, and offers a full body workout with no equipment required.

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