Health-conscious Kochi takes up swimming

KOCHI: Swimming seems to be emerging as the favourite fitness activity for the city residents. Cutting across age and gender, the number of people visiting swimming pools has increased in the recent times, according to many health clubs and institutes that have swimming pools.
With more number of fitness freaks turning to swimming for fitness, many health clubs and institutes have appointed male and female trainers.
Interestingly, many are visiting swimming pools on the advice of doctors. K P Bhaskara Menon, who runs the Life Gymnasium and Yoga centre, says, "A good number of people who approach us to learn swimming come on the advice of doctors. Swimming is the best exercise to treat dislocations of bones."
Even though there are more takers for swimming, the city does not have enough pools to cater the requirement. According to Kochi regional sports centre secretary Manohar Prabhu, the swimming pool at the indoor stadium is mainly for swimmers who have took it up as a sports item. "Our pool is for sportsmen but so many people have been approaching us to learn swimming. Presently 100 people are being given training in our pool in the indoor stadium," said Prabhu.