That's Fit

All year long, we've been sweating our way through gym workouts; running outdoor tracks, trails, and streets; and even braving sheer-faced walls at rock-climbing gyms. This time of year, however, a great alternative is to take a workout into the water.

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 non-impact, water-based exercise into their athlete's workout regimen.

But you needn't be a top-level athlete to benefit from some laps; all that's required is the ability to safely perform at least one basic stroke. Perhaps the most common swim stroke (save for the doggy paddle, that is) you can perform is the breast stroke. Although one of the most difficult strokes to maintain over a long period of time, the breast stroke 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.

Always be sure to swim in a pool, lake, or ocean that has a lifeguard on duty, and do not exceed your known performance capabilities.