4 different types of swimming styles and how they help in weight loss

Swimming is not only a recreational activity but is one of the most rewarding exercise-cum-leisure activities. It helps in weight loss, tones your body, improves bone strength and is even good for your mental health. Studies have even revealed that it is the most effective cure for stress. But different swimming styles offer different health benefits and you should choose the style according to your need.

Here are the health benefits of some common swimming styles:

Also known as front crawl, freestyle is the most common swimming style. In freestyle, you are required to keep your body straight and breathe in sync with your strokes. Kick hard with your feet, raise your arms alternatively overhead and tilt your head sideways to take a deep breath.

Benefits: Freestyle swimming is good for your core, arms, neck, shoulders, chest, upper back, and legs. This style of swimming gives you benefits of a full-body aerobic workout due to continuous hand and leg movements. Resistance from the water helps to make your arms stronger as they push away the water to propel you forward. You can burn up to 330 calories per 30 minutes of swimming if you weigh around 56 kilos.

In breaststroke, you are required to kick your legs like a frog kick. Your knees should be bend and you should kick out under the water. Your arms will move in one stroke, starting from your breast level to push the water away. The pushing will help propel your head out of the water so that you can breathe. You are less likely to experience any pressure in the spine or back pain while doing this stroke.

Benefits: In breaststroke, you are required to move your legs more than your hands. You have to generate a lot of energy to move in the forward direction, which helps to tone your body and make your leg muscles strong. If you are looking to work on your hamstrings, thighs and lower leg muscles, this may be the best style for you. This style also works on your chest muscles, tones your back and triceps. You can burn upto 300 to 444 calories per half hour of swimming, depending on your weight.

The butterfly stroke is a challenging one. In this stroke, you are required to raise both your arms above your head simultaneously and then push down your head into the water with them to move your body forward. Your legs will move in a dolphin kick motion (straight and held together).

Benefits: Butterfly stroke engages your core muscles. As your upper body is more involved in this swimming style, it helps to tone up your arms, chest, stomach, and back muscles. This swimming style even helps to improve your body posture and make it more flexible. Doing butterfly stroke for 30 minutes can help you burn 330 calories for a person weighing around 56 kilos.

In backstroke, you basically have to lie on your back and float using your feet and hands. In the beginning, only your lungs should be at the surface and the rest of your body must be below the water level. You have to move forward kicking your legs and alternately raising one arm at a time. Bring your hands back into the water in a vertical arc motion to move forward.

Benefits: Backstroke helps to lengthen your spine and make you seem taller. This stroke will also help to tone your shoulders, legs, arms, buttocks, and stomach. It is good for someone who sits for long hours at work. You can burn around 240 calories with 30 minutes of backstroke if you weigh around 56 kilos.