Water sports are really fun and adventurous. What’s better than rejuvenating in the aquatic beauty by some amazing means like parasailing, scuba diving or even simply enjoying the waves of the sea on your surfboard.
One such exciting sport is snorkeling. It’s actually swimming near the surface of water. All you need to enjoy this sport is a snorkel, a mask and a pair of fins.
As per Statista, the number of participants for snorkeling in the U.S alone were accounted to be nearly 8.72 million,.
What makes snorkeling a great sport is that it has some amazing health benefits associated with it. We have enlisted 10 health benefits of snorkeling which will make you crave to hit the sea.
Snorkeling improves breathing:
Snorkeling boosts up the inhalation of oxygen which enhances the body’s aerobic fitness. Breathing with the help of a tube can be a little tiresome as it requires a great amount of effort.
Snorkelers learn to breathe effectively using mouth which helps to improve their breathing skills.
Snorkeling is good for the heart:
Snorkeling provides strength to the heart muscles and boosts up the heart rate. Better cardiovascular health makes the heart less prone to many heart diseases like high blood pressure, heart failure, high blood pressure and other cardiac arrest or chest pain.
It also helps to improve the strength of the lungs as you have to hold back your breath when you are underwater for long intervals of time.
Snorkeling helps in joint mobility:
All water based sports are a great way of exercising and keeping yourself healthier. It can help people who are suffering from various problems like obesity, joint pain or stiffness.
Other cardiovascular exercises such as jogging and walking involve a lot of impact forces unlike snorkeling. So, if you can’t do strenuous workout due to movement restrictions, you can start snorkeling as a means of exercise.
Once your body gains some energy by consuming healthy like salad, you can indulge in workout sessions of higher intensity.
Snorkeling helps in overcoming risk:
A lot of people have a fear of water or diving. As it doesn’t require you to go much deeper into the water, it is good for people who are fearful about it.
If at all you feel panicked, all you have to do is get back up again and everything will be fine.
Snorkeling helps to improve performance:
When you’re learning an aquatic sport, snorkeling can significantly help you. It boosts up your lung as well as leg strength.
It also builds up the capacity to get through water and the ability to breathe through mouth.
Snorkeling helps you enjoy nature:
Snorkeling is one of the most pleasing and calming water sports out there. It helps you connect with nature.
It helps you explore the beautiful and the colorful creatures in their natural habitat. It is found to be very effective for patients who suffer from anxiety problems.
Snorkeling helps you to be fit:
Other than merely a means of recreation, it is a great way to exercise and get in shape. It can significantly help in losing weight and getting motivated at the same time.
It can help build up the inner strength of the body and minimize stress levels. It can help losing up to 300 calories in an hour!
Snorkeling helps to reduce stress:
According to Mayo Clinic, snorkeling helps to reduce stress and anxiety levels in the body. The power to hold the breath during snorkeling is considered similar to acts of meditation which helps to soothe the body.
Practicing snorkeling regularly helps in keeping calm and relaxed.
Snorkeling helps in boosting the mood:
As discussed earlier, snorkeling is similar to meditation. It releases endorphins in the body which helps in improving the overall mood and calming the mind as well as the body.
Snorkeling feels easy on the body:
Neutral buoyancy is found to relieve stiffness and joint pain and also improvising the strength and flexibility in the body.
It is beneficial for the patients who are suffering from arthritis, but want to continue exercising as it can help avoid the neck movements which can cause pain.
Keep snorkeling and stay fit!
Guest Blogger
Sara Brown, she can be reached at sara@healthybox.org
