Take a dive into SWIMMING

It may be time to turn that paddle into something bigger that benefits your mind and body!

Fans of classical literature will know the poets loved to swim. Byron, Keats and Coleridge all viewed swimming as a chance to commune with nature and nourish their creativity. In fact, they felt so euphoric after a dip, their state was given a name – hydromania. And anyone who counts swimming as part of their weekly routine will tell you the advantages go far beyond fitness.

Fans of swimming report a bounty of mental health benefits, including stress relief, improved mood and self-esteem, better sleep, increased brain function and more. Once you know how to swim, laps become meditative and you can put pressure on yourself without feeling your joints complain. It’s also excellent for your body, says aquatics programme supervisor Mimi Craig. “The resistance water provides is great for building strength. It’s a whole body workout, which increases your heart rate while reducing stress on the body.” Unfortunately, the number of drownings in New Zealand has been described as a “national disaster” by Water Safety NZ chief executive Daniel Gerrard. There are plenty of reasons why people don’t know how to stay safe in the water or know how to swim. Lack of access to a pool or migrating from a country where swimming isn’t a pastime are just some of the contributing factors. But it’s never too late to learn.

Here’s how to safely use the water to optimise your body, mind and sense of well-being.

Try deep water running