Happy Reunion

Oh - what a GLORIOUS night it was!!  I had a reunion with my best friend from years past.  What a GREAT night!!  The second I saw my friend, so many sensations came rushing back to me - a massive flooding of memories, a huge rush of adrenaline, that all too familiar smell - a giant burst of happiness welled up inside of me!!  All of that came rushing back this evening when I ran into my old friend - the swimming pool!

We went swimming for Jen's birthday.  We went to her aunt's pool in Bountiful.  This was Tony's first time.  It was also PK's first time in the pool.  He LOVED it!  (Except when crazy brothers splashed him in the face!)

But I loved being able to swim again.  I didn't get to do it for very long - since I was having too much fun holding PK for his first time - but it was nice to be able to exercise with my old best friend again!

Swimming is one of the absolute best ways to exercise.  It works out your entire body.  Not many sports can boast that!  There are hundreds of articles on the internet about the benefits of swimming.  Here is what one said...

Swimming is an activity that burns lots of calories, is easy on the joints, supports your weight, builds muscular strength and endurance, improves cardiovascular fitness, cools you off and refreshes you in summer, and one that you can do safely into old age. There's really nothing like it to combine nature, health, fitness, mental clarity and that pure bliss feeling of lying on your back, floating in the sun or in the pool with no worries in the world!

Benefits of swimming:

• Physicians recommend swimming to that people who have any problems with backbone and heart. In water a person moves almost in conditions of weightlessness moreover in horizontal position, and there is no loading on backbone. And if the back hurts, you can also "pull" it.
• Swimming works your whole body, improving cardiovascular conditioning, muscle strength, endurance, posture, and flexibility all at the same time.
• Without overworking the heart it improves the body's use of oxygen and increases lung function.
• It is recognized as a terrific low impact exercise for those who don't like the effects of jogging on their knees, because while in water you are non weight bearing.
• It helps to burn calories. During 30 minutes of swimming it is possible to burn 260 calories.
• The most important benefits to swimming have been psychological. Whilst under water you are away from all the noise and distraction of life on the land. The monotony of the strokes up and down the length of the pool have a sort of meditative quality that can be very calming, and of course there is something soothing about being in water. 

It helps to burn calories. During 30 minutes of swimming it is possible to burn 260 calories. The most important benefits to swimming have been psychological. Whilst under water you are away from all the noise and distraction of life on the land. The monotony of the strokes up and down the length of the pool have a sort of meditative quality that can be very calming, and of course there is something soothing about being in water.

I agree with all of this - especially the last one.  I did some of my best thinking, planning and daydreaming :)while swimming laps in high school / college.  Swimming has always been very calming and de-stressing to me!  Again - it's a GREAT sport for anyone of any age, with any health issues, and for any fitness level.  Plus - it can be done all year long thanks to indoor pools. 

Gotta love swimming!!