Swimming is awesome! It is a great way to take care of your body, without really noticing it. While many people go on vacation to the beach and come back looking refreshed, it is not just the sun and the break from work. That comes from swimming as well. You may have noticed, on occasion, that your body is tighter, has better tone and form and that’s all because you spend a lot of time swimming.
Does this mean that you should include swimming in your next diet and exercise plan to lose weight? Absolutely. We are about to embark on covering different swimming styles. The reason is simple: to see which muscle groups are working the hardest, as well as what leads to weight loss, as opposed to what leads to building muscles. Here are some styles and their effect on your body.
Front Crawl
This is the swimming style most people are taught when they are learning how to swim. It is effective, since it gets you from point A to point B in no time. What else does it do?
Front crawl strengthens our back muscles. It also tones your buttocks, stomach and shoulders. The reason Front crawl is very good is that it requires you to burn a lot of calories, and it isn’t overly complicated.
Butterfly Stroke
This is where the beginners have to get out of the pool. This stroke demands full body workout, stress and coordination. People who don’t dab in swimming, or they do so incorrectly, should approach this style of swimming with caution.
The swimmer casts his arms up front, similar to a crawl, with the difference being that both arms are cast at the same time. The swimmer uses their legs in a wavelike motion, working the calves and thighs, as well as the core, since the body is constantly in a spasm, trying to move. The reason you should work on your Butterfly stroke is that it burns the most calories in the shortest amount of time. However, we urge you to be careful. Overreaching is a common mistake, so you should probably work on your overall fitness level before tackling this style.
Breaststroke
Breaststroke is perfect for those that believe slow and steady wins the race. It is much more relaxing than the Front crawl, let alone the Butterfly stroke. It tones your chest muscles, and, while it doesn’t burn as many calories as the other styles, it is a good exercise for your cardiovascular system
Backstroke
This is a personal favorite of mine. It grants you roughly the same amount of benefits as the crawl, with much less effort. One of the biggest issues beginners and children have with swimming is that water can get into your eyes, nose and mouth. With the backstroke, that’s simply not a problem.
Backstroke tones your legs, buttocks, shoulders and stomach. It is perfect for those of us who have problems with their spine and posture in general, as it helps the swimmer straighten up and lose any potential humps.