Ever wish you could roll the calming, strengthening and flexibility benefits of yoga, the cardio burst of running, and resistance training all into one convenient exercise method? Well, you can if you take up swimming. It is indubitably a great workout for people of all capabilities, ages and fitness levels. Here are 9 of the many health benefits regular swimming can provide:

1. Regular swimming helps increase stamina and lung capacity. Some studies even show that athletic swimmers tend to perform better on lung function tests than runners. It can help those suffering with lung diseases such as asthma increase their capacities as well.
2. Most anyone can swim, no matter what physical limitations they may have as it is an easily modifiable activity. You can swim like an Olympian or simply move your limbs in the water with floatation aids.
3. Swimming can be a great cardiovascular workout as it keeps your heart rate up and the water provides great resistance to movement, making your heart work harder than performing the same actions on land.
4. It is a low impact workout, making it much easier on the joints than running. For this reason, swimming is a great fitness choice for pregnant women, the elderly or those afflicted with arthritis or chronic joint pain.
5. Unlike many sports such as cycling, that target one or two areas of the body, swimming can provide full-body conditioning. Moderate swimming utilizes your core, arms, legs, back muscles, and glutes to propel you forward.
6. Frequent swimming can increase your flexibility as you stretch your limbs to move forward in the water in different swimming strokes that utilize different muscles.
7. Regular swimming helps strengthen and build muscle as well as tone your body to help you become leaner.
8. Swimming can help you burn hundreds of calories (depending on the length of time and intensity level), and can be an effective weight loss tool when performed routinely in combination with a healthy diet.
9. Swimming can be great for your mental health as well, not only because it releases endorphins which help manage stress and pain (while making you feel fabulous), but is also calming to move gracefully through the cool water. Research also illustrates a link between regular swimming and easing symptoms of depression. So, forget the tensions of the day with a trip to the pool or lake!

Well that concludes our look at some of the many health benefits of swimming. Did our list make you want to find a lake and become a fish? Thanks for visiting DocChat, stay healthy and happy!