Swimming is one of the top public recreational activities. In few countries, swimming lessons are a compulsory part of the educational curriculum.
There are many reasons why people swim, from swimming as a recreational pursuit to swimming as a necessary part of a job or other activity. Swimming may also be used to rehabilitate injuries, especially various cardiovascular injuries and muscle injuries. As a formalized sport, swimming features in a range of local, national, and international competitions, including every modern summer Olympics, which takes place every four years.
The best part of swimming is it doesn`t tire you as much as other recreational activities for fitness. This is because human body is only slightly less dense than water, water supports the weight of the body during swimming. As a result, swimming is `low-impact` compared to land activities such as running. The density and viscosity of water also create resistance for objects moving through the water. Swimming strokes use this resistance to create propulsion, but this same resistance also generates drag on the body.
Swimming as a sport is an individual or team sport that involves using arms and legs to move the body through water. Typically, the sport takes place in pools or in open-water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports, with events in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and individual medley. In addition to these individual events, swimmers also take part in relays. Swimming each stroke requires specific techniques, and in competition, there are specific regulations concerning the acceptable form for different strokes.
Varsha Shokeen
Swimming It is not just moving your legs and arms back and forth , it is not just a physical activity , it is much beyond than that . It is a spiritual experience. You soothe your emotions and feelings out in the water . Those waves calm your mind and heart down . Swimming is a solace in itself . You can ponder freely in the water body shedding all your fears and inhibitions behind . It rejuvenates me . People often call it tiring overlooking it's magical power of leaving you with happiness and calmer mind . I started swimming in my 2nd standard since then it is my major crush . Dolphin was my favourite fish , due to it's friendly nature . I always wanted to find it . Being small imaginative girl back then i used to think that i can find her in the pools . Adding to the dolphin love those colourful ruffled costumes also acted as magnet to me . So I joined swimming classes . My coach used to push us into depth of the pool to vanish our fear . All my friends used to cry and yell alot fearing the depth and drowning but I used to smile at them . My finding dolphin idea helped me in disabling my fear . Later on found , it is more than a hobby to me . It is a pleasurable experience . Till date I continue it . I now smile at my childish thought of finding dolphins in pool . It did not made me find dolphins instead it made me find my love for swimming. Swimming is a rejuvenating activity . It rejuvenates your emotions and feelings . We feel more happy , calm and positive . In today's stressed world we need hobbies to escape ourselves to a happier and calmer world. - Varsha