Human Swimming - Purpose

Purpose

There are many reasons why people swim, from swimming as a recreational pursuit to swimming as a necessary part of a job or other activity. Some people may also be forced in to swimming involuntarily as a result of falling into water.

The largest reason for people swimming is as a recreation activity, with swimming consistently ranking as one of the physical activities people are most likely to take part in. Recreational swimming can be used for people to exercise, to relax or to rehabilitate. The support of the water, and the reduction in impact, makes swimming accessible for people who are unable to undertake activities such as running.

Swimming is primarily an aerobic exercise due to the long exercise time, requiring a constant oxygen supply to the muscles, except for short sprints where the muscles work anaerobically. As with most aerobic exercise, swimming is believed to reduce the harmful effects of stress. Swimming can also improve posture.

Read more about this topic:  Human Swimming

Famous quotes containing the word purpose:

    Certain books seem to have been written not for the purpose that we learn something from them but that we know that the author was a knowledgeable person.
    Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749–1832)

    Most Americans are born drunk, and really require a little wine or beer to sober them. They have a sort of permanent intoxication from within, a sort of invisible champagne.... Americans do not need to drink to inspire them to do anything, though they do sometimes, I think, need a little for the deeper and more delicate purpose of teaching them how to do nothing.
    Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)

    the Omnibus
    Had no real purpose till it got to us.
    Never believe it.
    Robert Frost (1874–1963)