Swimming is considered to be a healthy form of exercise, an excellent way to stay fit, and a great hobby for people from all walks of life. It is an ideal activity for people of all ages, from young children to older adults, and you can start swimming at any age.
So, if you are wondering if swimming is the right hobby for you, keep reading to learn more about this fun activity.
What is Swimming?
Swimming can be defined as an individual or team sport that involves the use of one’s body to move through the water. Swimming often takes place in public or private pools or open waters (lakes, rivers, seas, etc.). Swimming is a popular sport for both competition and recreation.
Can Swimming Be a Hobby?
Swimming is a popular recreational activity and hobby for people of all ages. Recreational swimming is a low-impact activity that offers many physical and mental health benefits. Swimming, as a hobby, is a good way to relax and feel good during your free time.
On top of being a fun activity, swimming is an excellent way to boost your fitness, stay healthy and it is also a great hobby to make friends. Some of the most popular techniques used in swimming include:
- Freestyle
- Sidestroke
- Backstroke
- Breaststroke
What Types of People Like Swimming?
You don’t have to be a super fit or athletic person to like swimming. People of all ages, from young kids to older adults, enjoy swimming. It actually becomes a lifelong skill and hobby for most people who learn to swim at an early age.
Swimming is a one-size-fits-all activity, and nobody is excluded from this recreational activity. A quick visit to any pool that’s open to the public will reveal the diversity of people who engage in this activity as a hobby.
Benefits: Why Swimming Could Be A Good Hobby?
Swimming benefits the entire body, as well as your mind, spirit, and energy levels. Below are some of the many benefits of taking up swimming as a hobby:
Improves Sleep
Of all the health benefits of swimming, this may be the most valuable. A good swimming session can help improve the quality of your sleep. People who suffer from insomnia or poor quality sleep can benefit from spending some time in the pool every now and then.
Boosts Mood
When doing physical exercise, the body releases endorphins, which automatically improve our mood. On top of this, swimming is a fun activity, and doing fun things generally makes us feel happy.
People who suffer from mental health issues like depression and anxiety can benefit a lot from taking up swimming as a hobby.
Low Impact Workout
Swimming is a low-impact workout, which means that it’s easier on your joints when compared to exercises like weight lifting, running, or cycling. Swimming is recommended for people with disabilities, injuries, arthritis, and even expecting mothers.
Burns Calories
Being a full-body exercise makes swimming an excellent way to burn those extra calories. A couple of laps at the local pool each day can make that extra fat disappear from your waistline.
Are There Drawbacks to Choosing Swimming as a Hobby?
Swimming is an overall excellent workout and a great way to stay fit. However, swimming is not without its own drawbacks. There are specific risks involved in spending too much time in the water, be it in a swimming pool or out in open waters.
Here are a few drawbacks to choosing swimming as a hobby:
- Risk of Drowning: Possibly the biggest drawback to choosing swimming as a hobby is the inherent risk of drowning. This is more likely if you are just learning how to swim. It is important to always exercise caution when swimming in a pool or in open waters.
- Chlorine in Pools: Chlorine is used in pools as a disinfectant, but too much chlorine is not good as it can cause eye irritation, dry skin, headaches, and other unwanted side effects.
- Fungal Infections: Fungal infections are another common drawback of swimming. Fungal infections like athlete’s foot are common among swimmers and can spread rapidly when proper sanitation measures are not taken.
How to Start Swimming as a Hobby
Getting started with swimming is easy. This is a sport for all fitness and skill levels. Before you can dive into the water, it’s important to have some things sorted out.
First, you have to find a safe and appropriate place to swim. There are public pools throughout the country that are open to everyone. Next, you may need to find a trainer if you are a beginner or swimming for the first time.
Equipment Needed
The most basic requirement for swimming is a swimming costume. These can be shorts or trunks for men and boys or bikinis for ladies.
However, there’s a lot more equipment you can get to make swimming much more enjoyable and enhance your overall competence in the sport.
Goggles are important if you are going to swim underwater. Kids are advised to wear goggles to protect their eyes from chlorine in pools. Kids may need swing rings, float sits, and arm brands when learning how to swim. These are used to aid buoyancy and prevent drowning.
Pro swimmers can get swimming gloves, paddles, fins, and caps to improve their swimming experience. Clothing and equipment can be bought online or at your local sports shop or swimming center.
Start-Up and Ongoing Costs
Initial costs typically include the cost of getting the clothing and equipment needed to start swimming as a hobby. Prices vary depending on the choice of clothing and equipment.
Next, you need to find a safe and appropriate environment to swim. There are plenty of public swimming pools in most large cities and towns. Here, you can earn how to swim and get taught by qualified professionals and trainers.
You may be required to pay an entrance or membership fee to access these facilities and training resources. And there are, of course, lakes and seas which are free of charge.
Can You Make Money From Swimming?
Although swimming is a not a highly lucrative sport in terms of earning a huge salary or making tons of money like other major sports (i.e., NFL, MLB, or NBA), professionals swimmers can make money by winning state or national competitions or getting endorsements and sponsorships from major brands and companies.
Similar Hobbies to Swimming
One of the most closely related sports activities to swimming is gymnastics. Gymnastics involves various movements of different parts of the body that are very similar to popular swimming techniques.
Dancing is another hobby that is similar to swimming because it involves moving different parts of the body in a smooth rhythm.
Alternative Hobbies Swimming
Swimming can be a demanding sport, especially when done professionally, so it can be helpful to have some additional hobbies to relax after a long day out in the water.
While a swimmer’s primary hobby is swimming, they can benefit from having alternative hobbies to allow them to have fun away from the pool. Some alternative hobbies to swimming include cooking, listening to music, and meditation.
Where To Learn More
Most public swimming pools offer a wide range of courses where you can learn how to swim regardless of your age. You can opt for one-to-one lessons, group lessons, or activity classes.
Alternatively, you can join an exclusive swimming class i.e., Pregnant Mums, Parent and Child, Water Polo, or Aqua-Aerobics, where you can benefit from not only the exercise but the social aspect as well!