Health | Sports Coach

Swimming and Dry Skin

Most people know without being told that dry, chapped hands are no fun to look at. But not only are scaly, abrasive hands a bummer to hold, they are also a potential health risk.

Swimming can cause just about every nook and cranny of your body to dry out. The chemicals, mainly chlorine, in the pool can have a devastating effect on the hydration of hair and skin alike over time.

That’s why it’s important to prevent the dehydration of both. And while straw head can be unsightly, dry skin can be a much more serious issue. Human skin is actually the largest organ in the body, and it is also the first and largest barrier of defense against sickness and infection.

When skin is hydrated it’s cells are close together and form a nice, uniform wall blocking out nasty little viruses and the like. But when it’s dry and chapped, all those red lines and open scabs are wide-open doorways for anything that wants in.

And swimming can cause skin to chafe all over your body. That’s why it is critical to rehydrate your skin regularly before and after swimming. Remember to always rinse in regular water before and after entering the pool, and use a good lotion. Stay away from lotions containing a lot of fragrance or any kind of anti-bacterial chemicals. These will usually contain alcohol, which is going to make the drying worse in the long run.

Most pharmacies will have a good selection of lotions, but be sure to get one which is non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog skin pores. CeraVa is a great brand, and they sell not only lotion, but a creamier and a thicker hydrating cream which is really good for after a shower.

Just remember anywhere your dry itchy skin is flaky and irritated, it’s not only a pain it’s a potential case of the sniffles, or worse.

Filed Under: Swimming Tagged With: Health, Lotion, Skin, Xeroderma

Why Coaching with Love and Concern for a Team Works for Kids

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Being a coach of a sports team for children can really play an influential part in a kid’s childhood. That first coach is someone that leaves such a lasting impression on the child that they will be talking about it when they are 80 years old and sitting in a nursing home.

With such a task ahead of you as a sports coach it can be a bit intimidating. So how do you know that you are coaching the right way as compared to the wrong way? How do you know that you are leaving a good impression on a child?

The answer really comes down to instinct. If you are coaching from the heart and with the thought that you must guide a child through a very important part of their life and let them learn how to play a certain sport, then you are probably going to leave a very good impression on these children. However, if you are coaching them as if there is a hoard of sports betting sites nipping at your heels and trying to get them to win, then you probably aren’t going to be that coach that everyone remembers.

Children’s sports should be all about having fun, trying out a sport and meeting new friends above everything else. There is absolutely no need for anyone to act like these young children are professional players and have millions of dollars resting on their shoulders, because they don’t.

Remember if you coach with love and instinct then you’ll be a coach that children will love. If you act like these children have the world riding on their shoulders and end up being that screaming, raving coach, then you probably will not be a part of a child’s memory and if you are it won’t be favorable!

Filed Under: Activities, Excercises, Fitness, Games Tagged With: Alternative, Child, Coaching, Health, Muay Thai, Sport, United States, Vancouver

Swimming gaining in popularity as a cardiovascular mainstay

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As more people make the commitment to exercise regularly, swimming has proven to be a viable option for those wishing to avoid the aches and pains that accompany running and other high impact exercises.
When people begin their exercise regimes, they may be horribly out of shape, and significantly overweight. A 400 pound man, can’t expect to run multiple miles, and in some cases might be limited to walking very short distances.
Swimming is a way to get started exercising without the typical pain in the ankles and knees that sometimes stop the exerciser before they really get started. There is nothing worse than starting an exercise routine, only to be so stiff and sore after day one that all the goals and hopes of a healthy lifestyle are washed away before they are really given a chance
The benefits of swimming are not limited to just the obese or a beginning exercise enthusiast. Even high-level runners sometimes substitute swimming into their normal routines, to cut down on mileage and wear on the body. Swimming allows the body to dig into its cardiovascular reserves, without putting excess stress on the feet, ankles and knees.
Finding a place to swim may not be as difficult as you think. Many gyms in metropolitan areas include usage of the pool in their normal monthly fees. YMCA’s are typically equipped with swimming pools, and public pools often offer ‘adult-only’ swim nights for parents and other swimming enthusiasts who don’t want a pool full of hundreds of kids during their workout.
Ever hear of a swimmer getting hit by a car? Unlike runners and bikers that face trucks, SUV’s and other obstacles during their workouts, swimming provides a relatively stress free environment to improve one’s cardiovascular health.
For those looking at putting variety into their routines, swimming, lifting weights and running or bike riding can provide a well rounded routine that keeps the body and mind fresh.

Filed Under: Sports, Swimming Tagged With: Fitness, Health, Home and Garden, Physical exercise, Shopping, Sports, Swimming pool, YMCA

Sports could be the key to your child’s health

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With America’s continued decline in fitness and rise in obesity, getting your child active and involved in sports could be a major contributor to the health and well being of children.
Gone are the days when children went outside and played for several hours during the day. The rise on internet social media and video-games has turned American children into virtual couch potatoes.
Sports are a great way to get children moving. The National Football League recently introduced a program that encourages youth to get outside and play for at least an hour a day. The one element most sports involve is running, and running is a great way to lose weight and stay healthy.
Different children like different sports. Full contact sports like football might be too much for some children. A sport like swimming may not be the answer, especially if your child does not have the proper training or confidence to spend time in the water.
Find out what your child likes to do, and then do it with them. Not only are children registering off the scale, but also adults are leading sedentary lifestyles because of todayâ€™s on-line working environment. Playing sports together is a great way for familyâ€™s to get healthy and spend time together while doing it.
Many youth donâ€™t even like sports, but there are groups and leagues that provide non competitive sports for both youth and adults. If your child isnâ€™t competitive or doesnâ€™t want the pressure that team sports brings, they can still find something that keeps them actively engaged while exercising.
Even golf, which isnâ€™t considered a physically active sport, forces participants to walk around a course for several miles while working on flexibility and mastering patience and mind control. Youth soccer is exploding across the Unites States, and millions of youth can be found on Saturday morningâ€™s across the country, running around and having fun.
Sports are not for everyone, but encouraging youth to get outside and get moving is a great way to create healthy lifestyles that will last a lifetime.

Filed Under: Sports, Swimming Tagged With: Child, Contact sport, Health, National Football League, Obesity, Physical exercise, Sport, Youth

Fancy a Dip?

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Step aside, yoga, there’s another way to increase physical fitness and boost your mental health: Swimming.

For years, swimming has been touted as an excellent form of exercise, and for a multitude of reasons. It’s low impact, so it’s easy on the muscle, bones and joints, which makes it an activity that people of all ages can take part in. And because you’re in water, the risk of an exercise-related injury is far lower than the injury risks associated with other activities such as running, walking and biking.

But the benefits don’t stop there. Since the water provides natural resistance—it’s actually 12 times more resistant than air—those who swim can enjoy some serious calorie burning benefits, and depending on your weight and the intensity of your swimming, you can blast more calories in one hour of swimming than what you would normally burn in an hour at the gym. And while you’re burning calories, you can also enjoy improvements in your endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular health and strength (lean muscle mass).

Body and Mind

That’s not to mention the mental benefits of taking a few laps around the pool. Studies have shown that swimming forces you to focus on regulating your breathing, which ultimately leads to relaxation and a meditative state. The sensation of weightlessness and floating adds to the overall relaxed feeling, and most swimmers agree that a dip in the water usually leaves them feeling relaxed and refreshed.

With all of these benefits, it’s no wonder that researchers began to study the effects of swimming on aging, and in their research, there have been some significant findings that suggest that regular swimming can slow the aging process and actually prolong life. Now there’s a great reason to hop into the pool.

One study conducted in 2009 by researchers at the University of Indiana found that the physiological markers associated with aging were slowed dramatically (up to 20%) among study participants who swam regularly. Additional findings revealed a positive correlation between swimming and increased respiration, muscle mass, bone density, cardiovascular activity and neurological function, further supporting findings that swimming significantly benefits your overall health.

Filed Under: Excercises, Fitness Tagged With: Health, Muscle, Physical exercise, swimming

Preventing Childhood Obesity

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The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has released its report on childhood obesity. According to the data, obesity has more than tripled among children in the last 30 years. The prevalence of obesity in children ages six to 11 years is 19.6%, which is up from 6.5% in 1980, and the prevalence of obesity among children age 12 to 19 years skyrocketed to 18.1%, up from 5% in 1980.

It’s no secret that obesity continues to be a growing concern in the U.S., particularly as more children are falling into the categories of being obese and morbidly obese. Obesity is defined as weighing more than 20% over your ideal weight, and morbid obesity is defined as weighing more than twice your ideal weight.

According to the American Heart Association, children are not as fit as they were a generation ago, which can be attributed to several factors, including a sedentary lifestyle brought on by video games and the Internet, as well as the high availability of unhealthy foods, and many children are already exhibiting signs of cardiovascular disease and other related conditions. And while the risk of heart attack and stroke are certainly lower in children than adults, there is significant evidence that the risk factors for these diseases begin in childhood.

Fortunately, the effects of a poor diet, lack of physical activity and cigarette smoking can be erased early on by a healthy diet and regular exercise. It’s up to parents to encourage activity and good food choices now so these healthy habits will be part of their child’s daily routine now and in the future.

Whether your child prefers moderate or vigorous activity, solo activities or team sports, make sure to get him or her involved in regular daily exercise. Even chores count as ways of burning calories. Switch out sugary foods and beverages for healthy choices and incorporate more fruits in vegetables into their meals.And most importantly, emphasize to your children the importance of regular exercise, combined with a healthy diet, and how it is key to maintaining a long and happy life.

Filed Under: Activities, General Tagged With: Health, Obesity

Active for Life

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Most people know that being active is the key to staying healthy well into your senior years. It’s also widely known that as we age, our muscle mass begins to deteriorate, our joints stiffen and our bones become weaker and more frail. Taking up regular daily exercise can help stave off the effects aging has on the body and improve overall health and well being. And it can be fun.

Start simply by incorporating exercise into your daily routine. Go for a walk in the morning or evening, ride a bicycle down the street—whatever you do, the activity doesn’t have to be vigorous or strenuous in order for your body to receive the benefits of exercise. And no matter your physical condition, there’s an activity that’s right for you. Whether that means going to the gym and working out with a friend or personal trainer, or joining a sports team, exercise will keep you healthier and increase longevity.

According to the National Institute on Aging, whatever activity you choose, your focus should be on building up your endurance, strength, balance and flexibility. A sample workout plan might include a mix of stretching the muscles pre- and post-workout, along with walking and light weight lifting. Swimming is another great activity to incorporate into your workout. It not only satisfies helps increase strength, endurance, balance and flexibility, it’s great for burning a high amount of calories and it’s easy on the muscles, bones and joints.

After a few weeks of activity you will start to see benefits, including an increase in energy and strength. You may also being to notice that your getting more quality, restful sleep as your body is responding to the increase in physical activity and seeking ways to repair and restore itself for the next day.

Use common sense when taking up a new exercise routine and make sure to stay hydrated and take plenty of breaks. If it’s been a while since you’ve exerted yourself, make sure that you start gradually into a routine so that you can prevent injury. Also, talk to your physician before starting any activity.

Filed Under: Excercises, Fitness Tagged With: Fitness, Health, Physical exercise

Exercising In Water Provides Great Health Benefits

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Many people that need to be exercising and thinking more about their health are those that deal with such things as obesity, disabilities or chronic injuries which makes it harder to exercise and easier to be inactive. Swimming and other aquatic exercise are good options for people of all ages and varying fitness levels because they have less impact on your joints than other types of exercise do which makes it easy for those dealing with pain, size or injury issues. Also, there are many health benefits that are associated with swimming like increased flexibility, muscle building, cardiovascular endurance and weight loss or maintenance.

Flexibility or the range of motion of a person’s muscles and joints is often taken for granted by people. You don’t know how much you need it until you experience a lack of it. Water exercises and swimming, when done with good stretching, can improve your flexibility and range of motion. That is why water is often used in therapeutic settings and physical therapy to help increase flexibility for a person. Water makes movements smoother which leads to lengthening, stretching and toning the muscles.

As people age, they tend to lose muscle mass and flexibility which can lead to difficulty in performing simple, everyday tasks. Muscle strength and endurance don’t always go together, but swimming can actually build both of these at the same time. With swimming, the body naturally meets water resistance so no matter what you are doing or what speed you are moving you build muscle. And when you move at a fast pace in the water you not only build muscle strength but endurance as well.

Swimming can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone and is also one of the best cardiovascular exercises available. Those suffering with anything from knee or back problems to disabilities as well as those that are overweight can exercise easily in the water and gain better health and a stronger body as a result. And as an added benefit, those swimming or doing other aquatic exercise can increase their metabolism and in turn lose weight or maintain their weight.

Filed Under: Activities, Excercises, Fitness Tagged With: Health, Physical exercise, Weight loss

Five Ways Swimming Can Give You a Mental Boost

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There’s no question that swimming benefits your body—greater strength, fitness and flexibility—but exercising in water can do lot of good for your head, too. Swimming can energize your mind, lift your spirits and enhance your sense of well-being. Avid swimmers say nothing beats the calm yet energized mental state brought about by a vigorous session in the water.

Stress relief
Swimming can be an ideal way to take a break from worries, pressures and negative distractions. During your swim time, it’s just you and the water. You are free to focus on nothing but the rhythm of your strokes.

Meditation
Many swimmers report attaining a satisfying frame of mind while swimming that resembles a meditative state. The repetitive strokes, rhythmic breathing, quiet of the water and lack of distractions can lead to a “swimmer’s bliss” that stays with you long after you’re out of the pool. After all, our bodies consist of about 60 percent water, so it’s no wonder we can feel a primal gratification in being enveloped by water.

Self-esteem
Keeping a regular swimming schedule can entail self-discipline, goal setting, time management and prioritizing—all of which raise confidence in our ability to set and meet goals. Add to this the mental and physical satisfaction of exercising in the water. And don’t forget how great it feels when those extra pounds fall away!

Mental acuity
Research indicates that swimming, like all aerobic exercise, may protect against mild cognitive impairment by increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain and lowering risk of cardiovascular diseases that can harm brain function. Scientists also say that regular aerobic exercise helps the brain work at top capacity by creating new nerve cells and boosting brain chemicals.

Less depression
Many current studies of the brain during physical activity indicate that exercise can have effects that are similar to antidepressant medications. During exercise, levels of mood-lifting brain chemicals are raised—and levels can stay elevated days after the exercise session. Brisk exercise like swimming also can help you get a good night’s sleep, which wards off depression.

Filed Under: Fitness, Swimming Tagged With: Health, Human swimming, Water