Red Deer Express 3
Wednesday, October 2, 2013, HEALTHY FAMILY LIVING
A look at the many health benefits of swimming BY KIRSTEN PALARDY Red Deer Express Most people enjoy splashing in water at a pool or outdoor park, and children especially seem to take to the water as a favourite pasttime. What a lot of people don’t realize are the many health benefits of swimming, even if it is just splashing around with the kids or swimming a few casual lanes or laps. “Whether you’re swimming for leisure or fitness you’re getting a great workout and getting different types of aerobic fitness and cardio whether that’s doing laps or chasing your kids up and down the slide stairs,” said program specialist Ashley Masko at the G.H. Dawe Recreation Centre. Masko also said that swimming is good for people who have injuries due to sports or car accidents or for those suffering from joint issues like arthritis because it is so low intensity and low impact. For youth Masko said learning to swim is a great life skill and that learning to swim is important especially in places like Canada where we have lots of lakes and rivers. “Swimming is a part of a lot of people’s leisure whether it’s at the pool or a lake. It’s something
kids can get out and do and be active but get to have fun at the same time.” Swimming lessons are available from four months up and Masko said starting children in the water early is key to their
swim-success. “With the babies coming into the water you’re participating with your child in a group setting and doing introduction to water, water activities and even submerging them if parents are
comfortable,” she said. A big part of lessons is simply getting children used to putting their face in water, blowing bubbles and moving through the water on both their stomachs and backs.
After the baby stage, swimming lessons become progressive where children learn introduction to water, proper water habits like entering and exiting the pool safely and building swimming skills. “We offer the Red Cross swim lessons which focus on technique and building swimming skills from beginning to end to where they are starting to learn the stroke development and endurance aspects of swimming.” Masko said there are basics that even parents can work on with their children including borrowing some pool equipment like flutterboards and noodles just to introduce their children to the idea of floating and kicking in water. “A lot of what parents will do are jumps in from the edge of the pool with parents to assist them in or starting the process of blowing bubbles and putting their face in the water.” She said swimming is fun for all ages and that with so many different amenities available at Red Deer swimming facilities there is no end to the fun to be had. “It’s not just the little guys or the older brother or sister, swimming is really just accommodating for everyone.” kpalardy@reddeerexpress.com
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