The benefits of year-round swimming

As we head into winter, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s time to take a break from swimming lessons. In fact, swimming is not just for summer and there are huge benefits to continuing all year round.

Not only is swimming an incredible way to keep fit, and healthy, it’s also an important lifelong skill to develop that will keep you safe in and around water. In this blog, Patsy Berriman from Richmond Aquatic Centre explains some of the top benefits for swimming regularly - not just when the weather is warm.

Keeping active during the colder months

One of the best things about swimming at indoor pools during the winter is that it’s not weather dependent. Even though it might be cold outside, indoor pools are heated so they’re always at a comfortable temperature. That means you can stay active, even in bad weather. By keeping up your swimming lessons, you’ll build strength, increase cardiovascular fitness, extend lung capacity, improve joint health and reduce inflammation. Stopping swimming over the winter could cause you to lose the benefits gained over the warmer months, so keep it up! 

Warding off the winter ills

It’s a myth that swimming during winter can lead to sickness. In fact, the opposite is true. As long as you have warm, dry clothes to put on afterwards, swimming is a great way to stay active and build resilience during the colder months. If you continue swimming year round, develop a strong immune system, reducing your likelihood of catching common winter illnesses. 

Improves social wellbeing

Joining a swim school gives you the opportunity to socialise with other people regularly, which can be great for your mental health, by reducing anxiety and depression. All ages, from young children through to the elderly, can gain confidence and enjoy interacting with others when swimming.  

Low impact exercise

One of the reasons swimming is a great exercise for all ages - including pregnant women and the elderly - is because it doesn’t place any stress on the joints. This means people are less likely to get injured in the water. Yet even though it’s low impact, it’s an effective way to burn calories, build strength and keep fit. 

Consistency of skills

Taking swimming lessons from a young age is one of the best things to do to prevent drowning. Children will learn how to be safe around water and develop strong swimming skills that will benefit them for life. Consistency is key for seeing results. “You really notice the kids that swim all year round. They can move through the programme a lot quicker, which obviously makes them safer and better able to get out of a sticky situation.” 

Benefit other sports

Often kids pull out of swimming lessons over the winter due to other extracurricular activities but this is counterproductive, as swimming can help improve their other sports. “We see it as something that can be quite beneficial for them in their other sports, for example providing that fitness, discipline, and extending breath control. So making it part of their weekly routine is really important and not losing that routine to another sport, but instead making it a complement.”