Why Swimming Is The Best Exercise for Your Brain

Swimming isn't just a great exercise for your body - it also strengthens your mind! Keep watching to find out how swimming can do amazing things for your brain, from improving your mental health to overall better brain function!

Sources:

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:39 Creates New Brain Cells
2:30 Improves Mental Health
3:40 Improves Your Memory
4:26 Helps You Sleep Better
5:09 Increases Blood Flow to the Brain
6:14 Better Brain Function

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About MySwimPro:
MySwimPro is the #1 fitness app for swimmers in the world! MySwimPro is a personal coach that helps swimmers in more than 180 countries improve their performance and health by delivering personalized training plans, workouts, technique videos, and analytics. The MySwimPro app is available on iPhone, Android, Apple Watch, and Garmin smartwatches.

About Coach Fares:

[hugoam]

I've struggled with anxiety and depression my entire life, even had a couple of suicide attempts. One of the very first things my therapist told me when I started treating my mental health issues was to go swimming. Apparently many other exercises subconciously indicate the brain to "keep things", like for example when lifting weights you pull the dumbbell towards your body. As one of my problems was that I couldn't let go of (bad) past events this was not ideal. Swimming on the other hand is all about letting go and just sort of float around letting things happen, I can't even put into words the extremely positive impact that swimming has had in my mental health, fortunately nowadays I have found inner peace and the negative thoughts have become so minuscule they don't affect me anymore. So yeah I am thankful every day to my doctor and to the people at the gym who mantain the pool and to swimming content creators like this channel because it's become such an important part of my life! :)

[Blessed]

The pool relaxes me when I am stressed, I Go to the pool daily for exercise and become one with the water.

[miguelfernandes]

Swimming is the best anti-depression, the most complete sport.
I´m 51 and 5 days a week, I swim 1 hour in the 4 different styles.
In the past, I had problems with depression, , since I start training I conquered my health again
I´m in very good shape and without mental problems.

[officialcheetahhopperz]

I’m 48 and stared swimming for my workouts 2 months ago, I basically did this because my body was not liking running anymore and screaming at me. I’ll never go back to running I love lap swimming and feel amazing.

[Ajajambo]

Even after being destroyed physically from a swim, I still feel happier than ever. I am 42 and have juts mastered Butterfly after year and years of hope to learn it. Happy swimming everyone.

[josephstevens]

I just love the complete body workout I get when swimming. I also love how it tires me out so that I get quality sleep.
I'm not a good swimmer, however I'm a consistent one - I also have good endurance. That is why I enjoy watching MySwimPro videos with hopes to become a better swimmer!

[Justsomeguyyoutubing]

For me swiming helps as I don't think much. Sort of like meditation+exercise.
Others may have different experiences, feedback etc.

[dgrewar]

All true. Since ive taken up daily lane swimming, my memory has greatly improved and i sleep well now.

[robfetty]

Hi Fares. Something that I have not heard you discuss - which is important. Swimming alone as a persons only exercise can be detrimental. A friend of mine ( middle age ) who just swims for exercise was recently diagnosed with bone density issues. A video about the importance of supplementing swimming with weight bearing exercise and/or weight lifting could be valuable.

[alanguages]

Dancing and Swimming are two of the main physical activities, that are best for the brain, I can think of.
Anything that traumatizes the brain, like the contact sports of boxing, rugby, football are the worse for the brain.

[sandrahossman]

Swimming relaxes me, puts me in the best mood. I feel great when I get out. I put my MP 3 player on and concentrate on my swimming 🏊‍♀️ plus I can rock out to great music.

[simba_]

Good video but I think many of these benefits can be achieved through any form of cardio so if you want to better yourself but don’t have access to a pool just go for a run around your neighborhood

[faustopereira]

As i have back pain problemas i started swimming 15 year ago and it is the best exercise i could find. Better then walking. I just need a bit of discipline to go into the water.

[usarchitects]

Roger that coach, swimming makes me happy, every time!

[lindagarrido]

I love jumping into the pool 3-4 times a week for 1 hour during the work week, especially when I'm trying to think through something, feel brain dead or simply need to get away from the computer. I also highly recommend joining a swim team if you can. It's a fun way to test your swimming skills while meeting other swim enthusiasts and participating in some healthy competition. By the way, after 30+ years of not swimming, I took it up again with the help of an amazing coach (worth every penny.) I can't emphasize enough how beneficial swimming is to us older adults. I feel 20 years younger!

[itgetter]

I really appreciate your videos! Super-informative and they get me pumped up to swim more and more!

[Doktracy]

Almost my entire high school girls swim team were also in the advanced “gifted” level class at school from 7th-12th grade together. Many of us were also in band and orchestra.

[lucamonteleone]

Can somone plese tell me where is the study about improving your memory?

[Trailerwalker]

Swimming is the closest we can feel to controlled human flight
Edit- Not a fact, just felt right typing this

[isaacjosifek]

This is sooo interesting!! I am doing a paper on why swimming is the best sport, and this is def something I'm going to talk about. Thanks for sharing!!