Down into the blue

My swimming story@ Benefits of swimming

It is another hot afternoon in Malaysia. The sun is gleaming brightly above the sky, scorching the semi-barren lands below it. You cannot even feel or sense the motion of air around you, as if you are living in a world without air. At this time, I wonder what am I doing if I am not at the swimming pool in the clubhouse not far from my house.

That's right, I often swim and take it as one of my hobbies. Although it is not my daily routine, but I would go swimming twice, sometimes thrice depending whether I have or don't have time. I started learning swimming using the basic frog-style or breast stroke when I was six. I didn't fear of having my body underwater so I didn't have much problem learning. The first few 'lessons' at the swimming pool are spent at playing in the shallower children pool. Luckily, my swimming tutor is my father himself, so I didn't get scolded for that. It was quite easy to me as I picked it up quickly. From that time onwards, I would go swimming whenever I have time because I put study as my priority. Kinda nerdy huh? Well I admit that.  Nine years later, I learned free-style or front crawl through a swimming tutor. Free-style was a bit complicated and exhausting than the breast stroke but I like it more because it is more faster and at the same time enables me to train my arm strength. 

  

So, why I choose swimming as my hobby? There are many reasons. Swimming is really fun. Imagine yourself fully immersed into the swimming pool while you hold your breath, where your whole body is completely surrounded by gentle, cool yet revitalizing waters that flow towards you from all directions. It makes you temporary forget about your worries and gives you comfort. After a few seconds break free from the water by penetrating up from beneath. 

I like this feeling of popping myself up from the water after soaking whole of my body inside. It feels as if I am reborn from death. (Although I found it fun but to hydrophobia's, it may be a haunting nightmare.)

I also promote swimming because swimming is a useful skill that can save your life in times of needy! This skill enables you to cruise through dangerous waters and rough waves if you find yourself shipwrecked or trying to escape from a man-eating shark. For scuba diving lovers and those who enjoy snorkeling, swimming is the basic thing that they must learn. Although it is not clearly stated, but they must at least know how to move underwater and this means that to play safe is to learn how to swim.

My father, my brother and me in the pool.

Swimming is also a beneficial exercise. It improves your fitness level by strengthening your heart and training your limbs, building energy within your body. By constant training, you can even increase the deepness of your breath, making you able to withstand the condition of not breathing for a longer time. It also enables you to build your muscles and burn away excess body fat, giving you a better body shape. What's more, it is a mild exercise that does not or rarely gives physical injury to your body. While swimming you just have to bear in mind not to swim alone or in dangerous places. Muscle cramps can be prevented by warming up before swimming. Another useful tip is to have a brief shower before going into water to enable yourself able to adapt to the water temperature.

Now what are you waiting for? Go find a good swimming tutor and start practicing! Well, excuse me now, because I am going to have an excellent night swim.