Beginner Swim Workouts

So you got a brand spankin' new pool, why not learn some beginner swim workouts? Many people prefer swim workouts because of their cardiovascular emphasis, cooling effects and overall fun nature. Most people enjoy a good dip in the pool and swim workouts take the best of both worlds to make for an exciting day in the sun. Read on to find out some amazing beginner swim workouts.

1. The breaststroke break. Make a sweeping motion like you do with the breaststroke while swimming, except this time you are going to take intermittent breaks. In other words, one lap of breaststroke and another of whichever form you are most comfortable with. Continue as much as you can.
2. Ladders. A common workout that both advanced and novice swimmers like to use. Like most swim workouts, ladders will fire up many of your muscles that have never been used. Divide your pool into even numbers and start with a small distance such as half the pool. Swim that length, then increase by half a pool length each time.
3. The stroke switch. One way to give your whole body a definite workout is to change things up midway. For example, try one lap with freestyle, another with the backstroke, a third with butterflies and continue on for however many laps you've predetermined as appropriate for your beginner swim workouts.
4. Laps. One of the most simple swim workouts is doing laps, as they are so named. Choose a specific style you are most comfortable with and go for it! Most athletic organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, the Marines and the Red Cross measure swimming fitness by distance able to be swam.
5. The doggie-paddle push. If there's one thing we can tell you about the doggie-paddle, it's one thing: It's completely inefficient. For that same reason, it fires up your chest muscles, triceps, shoulders, quadriceps and much more like none other. Set up a certain amount of laps you want to attempt to paddle and see how long you can support your own weight!

Swim workouts have a way of calming yourself while embracing fun and exercise. Your beginner swim workouts are only as successful as you make them and are dependent on effort, enthusiasm and (most of all) consistency. So keep with those swim workouts and one day you'll be the next Michael Phelps (minus the negative publicity)!