Delhiites, make swimming your summer workout

Swimming is one of the best exercises you can do for your health. It's a total body workout, taxing your arms and legs, as well as your cardiovascular system, yet it puts less stress on your sweaty.

But where to begin? Here are some tips from professional coaches on how to turn 30 minutes at the pool into an effective workout:

'START EASY, DON'T OVERDO'

"You wouldn't go right out and say, 'I'm going to run 10 miles," said Cokie Lepinski, a US masters swimming coach in Surprise, Arizona. "Same thing with swimming." Buy a good pair of goggles (a swim cap and kickboard can be helpful but aren't necessary), and start by swimming one lap - down and back the length of the pool without stopping.

Most recreational pools are 25 yards long, so one lap is 50 yards, two laps are 100 yards and so on. Olympic pools are twice as long, while home pools vary, so make sure you know the length. Also, many serious swimmers count one lap as one length of the pool, so make sure to clarify if you're working with a trainer.