Whether you’ve never been in the water before or your experience is limited my advice is quite predictable. Try it out. Get in that pool.

Why?

Swimming is unique. Not only are you working on your fitness but you have mastered a lifesaving skill. During my college years one of my courses for my minor (Athletic Coaching) was swimming. Easy A right? Anyways I ended up being an aid to the instructor and had the pleasure of teaching several football players how to swim. Struggling with the idea of someone never learning how to swim was the first hurdle. The second being teaching these ginormous guys how to relax and not muscle their way through the water. Once you learn how to swim you can save your own life or someone else.

Swimming is body friendly. If you are rehabbing from an injury swimming is low impact. Think of running and how your body weight is constantly landing on your knees, you don’t get that with swimming. Plus it truly is a whole body workout. You get upper body, lower body, and core in one neat and tidy package.

No sweat. You don’t have to worry about smelly clothes, feeling sticky, nope just the cool, crisp water flowing over your skin. I’m not saying you won’t get hot, I know I do, but there is something very appealing about not being drenched in sweat.

Swimming is totally different from lifting weights, an elliptical, or treadmill. If you choose you don’t have to interact with others at all. No fighting to get to the next available apparatus at all. (Pet peeve of mine) You can get in your lane, put your head down, and have some serious you time. It’s almost like meditation. Relaxing into your stroke and following the straight line of your lane.

If you have concerns or questions head to your local facility and get those questions answered and your concerns addressed. If there is an element of fear involved find out if there is someone who can help you get started on the path to independent swimming.

The bottom line is this. What reason do you have to not get in the water?