Get the most out of your swim with these top tips!

Swimming is fantastic aerobic exercise - not only does it work and tone almost every muscle in your body, and improve your flexibility, it does all this while having very little impact on your joints. It’s perfect for almost any situation - if you’re looking for a total body workout, if you’re recovering from a sports injury, or maybe you’re just a bit bored of the gym! We have lots of swimmers at our pools, so here’s a few tips to help you all get the most out of your time in the water. And if you’re not swimming already, why not?! Just visit your local Brio pool to get started! We offer adult swimming lessons for those who are new to the sport, or would like some help developing your strokes.

1. Focus on your breathing

Get into the habit of breathing on every third stroke - you’ll get plenty of oxygen and it’s great practice for breathing on both sides of your body. Additionally, keep exhaling while your face is in the water at a steady rate to avoid a carbon-dioxide build up in your lungs. This’ll stop you feeling like you’re out of breath!

2. Challenge yourself!

This tip applies to almost any form of exercise really, and swimming is no exception. Set yourself small, achievable goals, such as swimming 4 extra lengths, or a new personal best for swimming 10 lengths. You’ll soon find yourself smashing those goals and trying out new ones! You’ll really push yourself and increase your fitness levels this way.

3. Fuel up

We all know you shouldn’t swim on a full stomach, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect eating completely. If you’re swimming in the morning and are pushed for time, just have something small to boost your energy before you go, such a slice of wholemeal toast with peanut butter or a large banana. Try and leave at least 30 minutes between eating and swimming. If you’re swimming later in the day after a proper meal, then try and leave 2 - 4 hours between eating and swimming to avoid any digestion irritation while you’re in the water.

4. Warm up

Start your session with a few glides and a slower length of the pool to get your blood pumping, before trying to beat that PB we mentioned in tip #2!

5. Get some goggles

Goggles are great for seeing what you’re doing while underwater, and for keeping pool chemicals away from your eyes so you avoid any discomfort after your swim. It’s important to try on goggles before you buy them, to check they fit comfortably and that they form a seal around your eyes. If they’re not sealing properly, don’t bother! You may also want to invest in some anti-fog spray, or a homemade alternative to coat your goggles in before you get in the pool - it’ll stop them fogging up and obscuring your vision. Do you have your own swimming tips that you swear by? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter! And don’t forget to check out our Swimming Timetables to see what sessions are on near you.