Dark, inclement days can make running around the park an unappealing prospect, while the shelter of the local gym can mean it’s too busy for a stress-free workout. Not only is swimming accessible, affordable and light on equipment, it’s also a great cardiovascular exercise—just what you need to keep your fitness going until spring.
Breathe Easy
“Swimming is unique in endurance sports,” says Brian Johns, a former Olympic swimmer for Canada and head of coaching science at the swimming brand Form. “The precise mechanism is not yet completely understood, but it’s possible swimmers use more of their lungs when breathing, thereby developing the muscles around the ribcage to increase lung function.” Studies have consistently shown that competitive swimmers have a greater lung capacity than other athletes of a comparative build. The bigger your lungs, the more oxygen they can deliver to your body.
