Experts spoke about the reduction of anxiety and mental stress due to swimming
The swimming season starts in Moscow on June 1, and interest in swimming as a summer training is noticeably growing. Psychologists and specialists in restorative medicine have explained why exercising in the water simultaneously strengthens the body and reduces stress levels, as well as how it affects the psyche and productivity. All the details are in the Izvestia article.
Impact on physical health
Swimming uses up to 90% of the body's muscle fibers, including the shoulder girdle, back, abs, and legs. According to Kirill Antonov, senior instructor and methodologist at the Department of Restorative Medicine of JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), water resistance is 12-14 times higher than air resistance, which makes the muscles work harder. At the same time, the load on the joints and spine is minimal, as the body loses up to 90% of its weight in water.
Regular exercise helps correct your posture and strengthen your cardiovascular system. According to Antonov, regular moderate-intensity workouts reduce the risk of heart disease by 28%. Breaststroke and backstroke swimming are considered the most useful styles for the spine.
"A separate advantage is due to the fact that water significantly reduces the impact load on the joints and spine. Due to the buoyant force, the body loses a significant part of its weight in water, which is especially important for overweight people and during the recovery period after injuries," the specialist explained.
Water as a natural stress regulator
Swimming is considered by experts not only as a physical activity, but also as a way to gently stabilize the psycho-emotional state. According to psychologist Natalia Kucheryava, water affects the nervous system in a complex way: through breathing, the rhythm of movements and sensory perception.
"Water simultaneously relaxes the body and helps the psyche to recover. During swimming, breathing becomes deeper and calmer, which regulates the work of the autonomic nervous system and gradually reduces anxiety levels," the expert noted.
The psychologist called the effect of "slowing down" one of the key mechanisms. In water, a person intuitively reduces the pace of movement and attention to external stimuli, which gives the nervous system the opportunity to recover. Even the sound of water, as the specialist clarified, has a calming effect, since it is perceived by the brain as a signal of safety and stability.
In addition to the physical effect, swimming also affects cognitive processes, added Curly. Regular breathing and rhythmic movements help to stabilize attention and reduce mental stress.
Training recommendations
To achieve a sustainable result, regularity and proper diet are important. Swimming in cool water stimulates your appetite, so you need to control your diet to lose weight. The first changes in well-being usually appear after 4-6 weeks of training with a minimum of two workouts per week.
"It is important to remember that the body does not have to meet other people's expectations. Confidence is born not from ideality, but from a careful attitude towards oneself and a sense of inner comfort," the psychologist emphasized.
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