It is practiced all year round in the pool, but summer is the season in which swimming unleashes its potential: finally you can dive outdoors. It is well known that it is an excellent sport for children and teenagers, and is among the most popular activities for parents at the beginning of the school year. After the courses with the instructor it is time to test your skills. “Learning to swim, in addition to having beneficial effects on health, is important for your safety at sea and in the pool”, he said. Marco Bonifazi, president of the Federnuoto medical commission and professor of physiology at the University of Siena. And “becoming passionate about a sporting activity as a child serves to accumulate a patrimony of” motor reserve “that is not lost as adults. and will allow you to resume more easily “.
You don’t grow in height
Swimming does not help to grow in height, as is often said, that is the genes decide, and it is not a medicine for scoliosis or asthma. But it has many qualities: “It involves different muscles in a diffuse and harmonious way; the breath picks up a rhythm, with benefits also for the heart and joints thanks to the water without overload”, explains the expert.
The benefits of slow swimming
Beyond the performance, the respiratory and metabolic benefits remain. Slow aerobic activities also use fat as fuel, so it’s an ideal movement if you are overweight. However, continuity is needed, at least an hour three times a week. And if the challenges with the stopwatch are fun for kids, the beauty of swimming is also “slow swimming”, Bonifazi suggests: “Even floating, moving slowly and being carried away, is a physical activity. Feeling light in the water is like flying . Relax and guarantee a full of positive sensations “.
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When to take your first swimming course
This sport can be practiced from the first months of life. The optimal age to start is around 3 months after the first vaccinations. Starting early serves to develop aquaticity, i.e. the ability to functionally adapt to the aquatic environment. But learning to swim takes at least 5-6 years.
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The underwater activities depend on the FIPSAS (Italian Federation of Sport Fishing and Underwater Activities). At the age of 8 you can start the courses to learn the first rudiments, while for the real explorations you need an adequate experience to be achieved progressively according to the instructions of the instructors.
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How to overcome the fear of open water
The fear of open water can be caused by a lack of landmarks such as the lane strip or the back wall in the pool. A tip to overcome it? Put on a mask, snorkel and goggles and start exploring the sea near the shore. And slowly go beyond finding confidence. Better to move in pairs, however not alone. And go step by step, enjoying the wonders of the environment.