Cross training requires training in various sports for improving the strength of all your muscles and not only these which you use in your main sport. For example a runner develops the strength of his legs because he always uses his legs when he runs. Many muscles are not used and cross training is essential for improving your results in your main sport.

Swimming is great for cross training for various reasons. This sport requires efforts from most of your muscles in your body. You can consider swimming as an overall work out which may improve your cardio-vascular system. For example, cycling and running requires more effort from your legs and most of the muscles of your arms are not used.

Swimming is almost the perfect body training because this sport strengthens especially your arms and hips while your ankles get free flexibility. The efforts from your legs are less intensive than cycling and running but these are still used. Your legs works in conjunction with your arms and have more a relax effect compared with the intensive work they have while you are running or cycling.

Swimming has many benefits for your cross training:

BREATHING
Swimming requires efficient breathing techniques. Your breathing technique need to correct for efficient performance of your exercises. Breathing exercises has a lot of benefits for improving your lung capacity. Swimmers will improve their performance by staying under water for as long they can. They will maximize their consumption of oxygen from each breath they take. The efficient breathing techniques you learned during your swimming sessions will also improve your breathing during other exercises, for example running and cycling.

YOUR HEART AND LUNGS
Swimming is a good exercise for improving your lung capacity and will move blood faster through your muscles and make your heart pump stronger. Swimming will increase your heart rate gradually. If you swim relaxed a few laps after your training you will move blood through your muscles and will recover faster. This will help you to relax faster.

MUSCLES
Swimming is maybe one of the best exercises for improving most of your muscles. There are different swimming styles and every style will benefit other muscles. For example the butterfly stroke is a swimming style that will benefit your chest and shoulders, the backstroke swimming style will improve your hamstrings. Every swimming style will improve other muscles and will improve your results in other exercises.

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Why swimming is great for cross training?
We want to hear your view. Write now!