WATER WELLNESS
forward. You can fit a counter-current unit in an ordinary pool – something which many prefer to do as it steps up the exercise demands and avoids having to complete lap after lap.
Get fit!
Once you have your own pool the advantages will be enormous. Owning a pool gives you instant access to regular and convenient swimming. Swimming is something you’ll be able to do for a lifetime – and the health benefits swimming offers are worth the effort.
10 TOP TIPS FOR INTRODUCING YOUR CHILD TO SWIMMING 01) Take your child swimming from a very early age. You might want to wait until their vaccinations are out of the way to put them in the water but it's a good idea to acclimatise them to the environment. Check out trainer pools (they’re warmer) and special parent and baby sessions at your local baths. Ask if the teacher has Amateur Swimming Association Parent and Child Water Activity qualifications. 02) Your child might at first be reluctant to venture in, but whatever you do don't give up! Take a firm hand and show them how much you enjoy swimming. If your child is really apprehensive, just sit by the poolside and let them get used to the environment. Giving up might well be the easy option but your perseverance will be rewarded eventually.
If
they flatly refuses to enter the water, then leave it a few days and try again. 03) To make the visit more exciting, take along some favourite and familiar bath toys or a ball (make sure it's clean!). 04) If you are still experiencing real difficulties – try encouraging your child with the promise of a new swimming costume. 05) At bath time acclimatise your child to the feel of water on their face by gently splashing them – this helps build up water confidence. 06) Make swimming a pleasurable experience by going for a warm snack afterwards – it helps the child associate swimming with being a treat. Don’t take your child swimming with a full stomach. No more than a very light snack should be given within an hour of going swimming. 07) Try swimming with another mother and baby who are familiar to your child. 08) Getting out of the pool when the child is wet and cold is often the worst time. Make sure they have a warm shower and perhaps take a towelling dressing gown or big fluffy towel to envelop them in. It might be hard on you but make sure they, rather than you, are changed and dressed first! 09) If your child is at the stage of having structured swimming lessons and refuses to get in the pool, first seek the guidance of the teacher. As a last resort it might be worth considering having a few private lessons (i.e. on a one to one basis) if more individual attention is needed to overcome the child's fear. 10) Ensure that swimming is incorporated into your family schedule – so that children regard it as a fun activity that you can all participate in together. Swimming is one of the few sports that you can all enjoy as a family regardless of ability.
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Swimming is something you’ll be able to do for a lifetime – and the health benefits swimming offers are worth the effort
16 WHAT POOL & HOT TUB ”
Swimming uses practically all the muscles in the body. It can develop a swimmer’s general strength, cardiovascular fitness and endurance. If you are swimming for fitness, a
regular training programme with a steady build-up is important. The key word is gradual – build up speed and distance slowly. It’s best to start with three, half-hour sessions a week. It’s always a good idea to start any session with a few warm-up exercises. Standing upright, circle your arms forwards and backwards to get into the feel of the swimming strokes. Sit on the side of the pool and hold the heel of your foot in one hand and the toes in the other. Rotate your foot through 360- degree circles. Do this with alternate feet for a few minutes. You can also monitor your stroke rhythm through stroke counting. Count the strokes taken to complete each length and try to keep this figure throughout, even if your speed goes up or down. By doing this, you will help to ensure that your swimming technique is better and at the same time save on energy. If you are going to start swimming
regularly and have not swum or taken part in exercise for a number of years, it’s a good idea to have a medical check-up first. Remember; do not become discouraged if at first you can’t swim far.
Water babies: In the swim at an early age
Swimming is one of the few life saving skills that you can bestow on a child and yet still have enormous fun during the learning process. It’s so much easier and part of a way of life if you have your own pool. Water is a natural element for babies – after all they spend nine months in it before birth. So what’s the best way to re-introduce your child to an aquatic environment – albeit a very different one?
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