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The all weather workout
Swimming is a great
way to lose weight and build stamina at the same time
Swimming is a good fitness choice for just about everyone,
especially those who have physical limitations or who find other
forms of exercise painful. “It is a good, whole-body exercise
that has low impact for people with arthritis, musculoskeletal,
or weight limitations,” says a fitness expert.
Water’s buoyancy accommodates the unfit as well as the fit.
Water cushions stiff joints or fragile bones that might be
injured by the impact of land exercises. When immersed to the
waist, a human body bears just 50 per cent of its weight;
immersed to the chest, it’s 25-35 per cent and only 10 per cent
to the neck. Athletes use water to rehabilitate after injury or
to cross-train. People with arthritis or other disabilities use
water to improve fitness and range of motion and to relieve pain
and stiffness.
Fitness Benefits
Not only is swimming easy on the body, it is also a great way to
get fit. Swimming uses all the major muscle groups, including
the shoulders, back, abdominals, legs, hips and glutes. And
because water offers 12 times the resistance as air in every
direction, it helps to build strength. There are naysayers who
question the efficacy of swimming in burning calories. Research
done on swimming showed that one tends to lose weight slowly
because water submersion initiates a complex [nerve pathway]
which lowers the metabolic rate. And with a lower metabolic
rate, the body uses fewer calories to maintain normal function.
Experts on their part maintain that swimming can be a boon for
weight loss -- if one follows the same principles as with any
other exercise and one challenges the body.
Getting started
If you’re ready to get started, experts recommend getting a
swimming coach or joining a masters swimming group in your area.
Don’t be intimidated by the name; ‘masters’ just means over age
20. Masters swimming accommodates all levels, from beginners to
advanced, and you don’t have to want to compete to join. This
type of group supports recreational swimming for fitness, and is
a great way to learn technique – which is everything in
swimming.
Getting the rhythm of the strokes and the breath can be
overwhelming at first. Coaches break it down and take you there
slowly, practicing one part at a time. If you’re a beginner,
start slowly. Try to swim for 10 minutes. Build up to a
30-minute workout, three to five times a week. Include a warm-up
and a cool-down, and, in the middle, challenge yourself by
working on endurance, stroke efficiency, or speed. A comfortable
swimsuit and a pair of goggles are all you need to start, say
experts. You can even wait on the goggles if you’re not ready to
put your face in the water yet.
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November - 2009 |
| Cover
Story |
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Sunshine Time
The recent rally of the MSM
30 index reflects the robustness of the Sultanate’s macro-economy. As
investor confidence improves, Mayank Singh looks at the factors
underpinning this trend |
| Other
Headlines |
|
Oman Green Awards in December
The role of businesses, institutions and individuals in
environmental protection and preservation is invaluable. Its time that
we applauded such initiatives |
|
Changing Role
Oman has been undergoing a gradual process of evolution and a
dynamic private sector is a result of this says Dr Mohammed M Al Yousef,
Group Chairman, Al Yousef Group |
|
A genuine life-saver
Oman recently received its first batch of the H1N1 vaccine but
there have been some concerns about its safety. Malcolm Xavier Crasta
speaks to Jihane F Tawilah, WHO representative in Oman, to see if these
rumours hold any ground |
|
New playing fields?
Mazoon Mobile and Samatel are the latest mobile resellers to
enter the telecom sector. Visvas Paul D Karra does a status check of
their prospects in a saturated market |
|
Cutting procedural delays
Phase one of the one-stop-shop cut down turnaround time for
businesses. Manal Abduwani, DG of planning and follow up, Ministry of
Commerce and Industry talks to Mayank Singh about the government’s
future plans in this regard |
|
At the forefront
Al Omaniya Financial Services was recently rated as the No. 1
non-banking financial company in Oman. Malcolm Xavier Crasta speaks to
its CEO Aftab Patel to find out the reason behind their success |
|
‘I Want To Fly A Plane From Doha To Muscat Someday’
Khalid Ibrahim A Al Mahmoud, Chief Operating Officer, Nawras
has been an integral part of the mobile service provider’s success in
the Sultanate. Visvas Paul D Karra catches up with him for a tete-a-tete |
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Beyond Muscat
The Landmark Group is one of the largest retailers in the Middle East.
Akshay Bhatnagar and Sushmita Sarkhel, in conversation with Clive
Freeman, the new GM of Landmark Group, Oman |
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Back To Normal
The property market in Oman
has found the balance it needed after being rocked by the global
financial crisis, says Christopher J Steel, Managing Partner, Savills
Oman. A report by Visvas Paul D Karra |
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Saudi economy wins accolades
The liberal measures encompassing foreign investment that were
enacted in April 2000 encouraged foreign firms to own majority stakes in
companies within the kingdom. it also helped saudi arabia’s accession
to the wto in december, 2005 |
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A befitting tribute
The Living Ghost, Akshay Kumar Parija’s ode to his native state Orissa
has been winning critical acclaim across the globe. Mayank Singh reports |
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The all weather workout
Swimming is a great way to lose weight and build stamina at the
same time. Swimming is a good fitness choice for just about everyone,
especially those who have physical limitations or who find other forms
of exercise painful. |
| Regulars |
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