How Swimming Classes Can Boost Your Mental Health

Swimming is an excellent form of exercise that keeps your heart rate up, builds endurance and maintains a healthy heart and lungs. But did you know that it’s also a great way to boost your mental health, too?

Any type of exercise is good for managing stress levels because it enhances the mood and increases feel-good chemicals in the brain. What makes swimming especially effective is that it takes stress off the body. This way, you can get all the benefits of exercise without injuring yourself.

Let’s look at some of the ways that swimming classes can boost your mental health and make you a happier person overall.

Release Stress

Stress is a normal part of the human experience, but it’s important to process it. Otherwise, it will build up in the body and lead to agitation, irritability and anxiety. By working swimming into your routine, you can regularly release stress. When taking a swimming class, be sure to pay close attention to your technique, as practicing a consistent rhythm has a meditative effect on the mind and body.

Decrease Anxiety and Depression

If you let stress build up, it’s easier to slip into anxiety or depression. Swimming for just 30 minutes a day is enough to improve sleep patterns and mental health. This is the case because swimming increases chemicals in the brain that are responsible for happiness and wellbeing. When you swim most days of the week, you can keep these chemicals balanced without having to take any medication.

Social Interaction

Exercise on its own is a great way to feel better mentally and physically, but swimming classes give you another boost – they introduce you to other people. When you take a swimming class at a place like Into the Swim, you can enjoy plenty of social benefits. Our class sizes are small so that you get plenty of attention from our instructor while also meeting like-minded people who share the same interests as you.

Healthy Brain

When you’re immersed in water, a lot of things happen to the body. For example, oxygen, glucose and nutrients increase, supporting a healthy brain. When your brain is functioning at its best, it’s easier to manage stress and keep a balanced perspective. Studies have even found that swimming can have a significant impact on memory, low self-esteem, social withdrawal and cognitive brain disorders like Alzheimer’s.

Calming Setting

If you’re able to swim outdoors, the benefits of swimming are compounded. You can take in the outdoor scenery, soak up immune-boosting Vitamin D and improve your sensory skills. But even if you have to take swimming lessons indoors, the setting is still calming and relaxing. Research tells us that the color blue is soothing and effective at consoling the mind and improving concentration.

There’s no question that swimming classes can help you lead a more balanced life. The best part is that you can participate in these classes at any age! Swimming is a low-impact exercise that is safe for almost anyone, particularly if you’ll be taking a class with a qualified instructor. To choose a class that’s right for you, contact Into the Swim today.