Cardio pool

Look at any avid swimmer and you'll most likely see someone with long, lean, aesthetic physiques. A fantastic cardiovascular workout, swimming also utilizes just about every muscle in your body. Even the most highly trained weightlifter or long distance runner can oftentimes find themselves struggling to catch their breath after a few laps in the pool, which is why many Olympic, pro sports, and boxing trainers typically incorporate some sort of "aquacize" into their athlete's workout regimen.

One of the most common swim stroke (save for the doggy paddle, that is), is the breaststroke. Although it's one of the most difficult strokes to maintain over a long period of time, the breaststroke is among the easier to perfect. The stroke is done while laying flat in the water on your chest, with the arms breaking the surface of the water only slightly and the legs underwater the entire time. The legs do what's known as a frog kick, basically because they look like the kick a frog makes when swimming.

If your a novice swimmer, start with a realistic goal -- maybe swimming a lap or two. Then, over time, you can increase your speed and number of laps as your endurance increases. Also, always be sure to swim in a pool, lake, or ocean that has a lifeguard on-duty and, just as important, do not exceed your known performance capabilities.