The Benefits Of Cross Training In The Pool
As you probably already know, the road to optimal fitness is not a single-activity experience. Instead, many athletic experts agree that even if all your athletic ambitions are tied to a single sport, cross training is your best bet for achieving peak form and peak results.
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The reality is that cross training is a no-impact and full-body exercise that boosts your cardio capacity without beating up your body. So, swimming is an ideal complement to almost any activity.
According to Steve Tarpinian, swim coach and author of The Essential Swimmer, “Swimming allows the body to stretch out and elongate, whereas in other sports, we’re shortening the muscles and collapsing the skeletal system.” So, when you pair swimming with running, cycling, weight training, soccer, or other field sports, and the result will be improved fitness and a stronger, more balanced, less-injury-prone physique.
It’s important to keep on mind that swimming is one of the most effective exercises for active recovery, helping heal injuries or relieve the stresses inflicted by a tough workout on dry land. After all, water pressure forces the blood deeper into the muscles, helping them recover.
However, it’s also important to keep in mind that water resistance provides enough oomph to strengthen your arms, shoulders, back, legs, and core. In swimming, the power comes from the arms and hips, and what connects those two is your core. If you swim properly, you’re strengthening the core.
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The Benefits Of Cross Training In The Pool
When you are looking to do cross training in the pool, you can expect to get some benefits. However, there are some tips you want to keep in mind:
#1: Practice Good Technique:
When you are looking to maximize your cross training in the pool, you want to ensure that you take the time to develop good technique. This won’t only allow you to enjoy far better cardio results as you’ll be able to swim for a longer time.
Using a good form will also promote muscle balance by assuring that muscles are worked more evenly.
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#2: Decrease Drag:
If you aren’t an experienced swimmer, then you may struggle with sinking legs, poor rotation, and even short strokes. So, to reduce drag, you need to make sure that you keep your body properly aligned (head, hips, and feet in line and high in the water), roll your whole body from side to side along a lengthwise axis with every stroke, and elongate your stroke.
#3: Improve Your Breathing:
When you do good rotations, this will also help you breathe better. If you’re rolling enough to the side, you won’t need to lift your head (or crank your neck) as much to inhale. Also, make sure to exhale completely with your face in the water before rolling back up for another breath.
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#4: Work With A Coach:
To ensure that you get the most out of your cross training in the pool, it’s wise to consider working with a swim coach or simply join a coach-led training group.
This will allow you to improve your freestyle technique by performing drills, which isolate specific parts of your stroke. Side-kicking drills, stroke-counting drills (to practice going farther with fewer strokes), and those that focus on arm position and follow-through all pinpoint common problem areas for beginners.
