90% is dealt by the pool”(17 Major Health and Mental Benefits of Swimming Daily). When you’re in the water oxygen flows to the muscles, and it forces you to regulate your breathing. In the article Stay Happy, from the magazine, Swimmer, Jim Thornton says, “It can even promote so-called “hippocampal neurogenesis” - the growth of new brain cells in a part of the brain that atrophies under chronic stress” (Thornton). Atrophy means to progressively decline, so basically under chronic stress your brain cells don’t usually grow. When you swim it acts as a stress reliever because it produces new brain cells. The concentration of working on a technique, mixed with the rhythm of the stroke, and the feeling of being underwater, is basically relaxing meditation for your body. As you can see, swimming has many positive effects on your mental health. Next, swimming also affects your physical health. If you choose to pursue competitive swimming then you can enjoy the health benefits from its vigorous workouts. The four main strokes are butterfly, backstroke, …show more content…
Swimming makes you develop many life skills that are valuable in the real world: “It helps social benefits, leadership, and teamwork that comes from being a part of an athletic team” (Liner world). When you start to be involved in swimming you quickly get to know many like minded regulars. In addition to meeting new people swimming introduces goal setting opportunities. Goals are determined by the age and physical condition of the swimmer. It is a sport that focuses on the individual strengths of a person. These strengths can be used outside of the pool in other learning environments. Swimmers also develop a friendly competition between their peers. Having a good competition good because it promotes growth: “It’s only natural; if you want to compete with someone else you have to grow” (Rosenberg). Swimmers often succeed in more advanced learning environments “often in honors or accelerated academic programs, because of the self-motivation learned in swim classes” (The Non Physical benefits of swimming). Studies show that kids who swim early on are also more likely to develop social skills quicker than their peers. This is because, swimming helps team building skills, and the motivation to complete an individual goal. As you can see swimming can be a great way to make new friends on a team, and expand the circle of peers you