Swimming for Life

Summary: Lifelong swimmer Mary Walsh shares how swimming has been a cornerstone of her health and happiness from childhood through her 60s.

The Best Investment

As one who grew up in a family of nine children, I’ve always believed that one of the best investments my parents made in raising their large brood was the annual purchase of a summer-long membership to a swimming pool. It was a good way for mom to keep us in one place, out of mischief, and exercising, which generally made us tired and my parents very happy. My mom always believed that an exhausted child who went to bed without a fuss was a good child.

My parents wisely knew that exercise and sports would help us stay happy and healthy. Growing up, my brothers and I swam on the swim team, and when I wasn’t working out or swimming in meets, I whiled away many hours with friends just playing in the water. I remember how joyful I felt as I floated and glided through the water, seeing how the sunlight reflected to make the water shimmer and sparkle. It was a glorious feeling.

I remember how joyful I felt as I floated and glided through the water

I still feel that sense of anticipated joy when I go to the pool, knowing that my workout will no doubt make me feel better, and that a good soak in the whirlpool afterwards will leave me pain-free, with my aches and pains banished once again. Now that I’m in my 60s, after swimming competitively on and off since I was a kid, and knowing how good it makes me feel, I firmly believe swimming can extend my life. In fact, I’m banking on it! That’s why I believe my investment in a membership to a health club is worth it.

Health Benefits of Swimming

The health benefits of swimming are well-known. Swimming is good for your heart. The more you swim, the stronger your muscles, increasing physical endurance. Swimming is also good for your circulation and can help keep inflammation low, staving off the effects of chronic conditions such as diabetes. Swimming can ease the pain of arthritis by stretching your body, improving flexibility. In fact, any water-based exercise can improve joint health.

But for me, perhaps the best thing about swimming is that it’s good for my mental and social health. Those happy hormones, endorphins, which are released during a workout keep my mood happy and anxiety low. I’ve also found swimming to be a great way to socialize. I swam regularly with a group of women for 15 years. Working out together in the pool was fun and good for our health and socializing together was good for our mental health. I enjoyed our chats in the locker room, whirlpool, or steam sauna. We’d occasionally share a cup of coffee or breakfast afterward.  Plus, we had regular get togethers to celebrate birthdays and holidays.

Humans are social creatures and the impact that loneliness and isolation can have on the human body is startling. Research indicates that isolation and loneliness can be linked to high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. Keeping up social contacts and physical activity is the key to keeping a healthy body and extending our lives.

How to Get Started 

If you’re unsure about the best way to go about finding a water exercise that’s right for you, I say try them all. You may find a class that you really like with great classmates. If you’re a beginner swimmer, there are many options for swim classes and private lessons. For those with more swim skills, there’s masters’ swimming (https://www.usms.org), which I’ve participated in for years.  Swimming has grown in popularity over the years. It’s now the 4^th most popular sport for exercising in America, making swim options more available and affordable.

Finding the right kind of swim facility is key, whether it be for swimming laps or taking a class. Here, too, I highly recommend shopping around for something that is right for you and within your budget. Check out park district pools, which are inexpensive. Plus, you can choose a summer membership to an outdoor park district or swim club. Outdoor swimming is my favorite!

When my boyfriend and I moved in together last year, we knew we wanted to work out together, so finding the right health club facility that we both liked and could afford was important. We shopped around quite a bit. Clubs will often let you work out there to sample what they have to offer. We also checked out several park district facilities. We settled on a facility that is great for both of us.

Whatever you choose, stick with it for a while. Maintaining a regular exercise regimen helps ensure it will become a lifestyle. If you find you don’t like a class or workout routine, change it up, but stick with it. You’ll eventually find something you really like, even love.

Originally Published:

March 2020

Senior Beacon