If you have an artistic flair and you enjoy swimming as well as dancing, you will certainly enjoy synchronized swimming and lifeguard training. We take a look back at the benefits of this demanding discipline.
The first aquatic ballet competitions appeared in Germany at the end of the 19th century. It is then Annette Kellerman, an Australian swimmer, who will contribute to the development of synchronized swimming. In 1907, she produced a show in the United States where she danced in a glass basin following the rhythm of the music.
The first synchronized swimming club opened its doors in 1923 in Chicago. About sixty years later, in 1984, the sport entered the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Too often considered to be exclusively female swimming, synchronized swimming is therefore practiced underwater, in apnea, solo, in a duo, or in a group. It is a very athletic discipline that combines swimming, dancing, and gymnastics. The swimmer must perform a very precise choreography respecting the rhythm of the music.
A complete discipline
Who says synchronized swimming, says nautical sport allowing to work breath and endurance. Note that training takes place both in and out of the water. The warm-up usually begins with flexibility and core exercises, followed by a few lengths. Guided by a teacher, you will try to perform several figures such as the scull, the ballet leg, the vertical position, or the flamingo. It will be a question of stringing together several figures to create a choreography.
The benefits of this discipline will quickly be felt. Like all water sports, synchronized swimming helps protect your joints from any impact on the ground. In addition, water has beneficial effects on cellulite and orange peel thanks to its hydro-massaging action. By soliciting both the upper and lower body, the silhouette is gradually and harmoniously refined to give way to a flat stomach, concrete abs, rounded buttocks, and visible biceps.
A sport accessible to all
From 7 to 77 years old, anyone can practice synchronized swimming. On the condition of knowing how to swim – of course – and not being afraid to put your head underwater. If flexibility is an essential quality, it is worked on as you train.
You will also develop qualities such as coordination, memory, and thoroughness. What also counts is the team spirit, although you can choose to swim alone, in pairs, or in groups of 4 to 10 people when you sign up. The expression of the face – understand the smile – is also very important in synchronized swimming: the artistic side is never very far!
Which sports to practice to burn as many calories as possible?
If running is very famous for promoting the rapid and significant loss of calories, it is not the only sport to practice for maximum energy. Top 5 sports that burn the most calories.
To lose weight, keep your weight stable, or just be healthy: the key lies in the right combination of moderate to high-intensity physical activity and a balanced diet.
Of course, some exercises allow you to burn more calories than others. Update, with Julie Aubert, co-founder of the “Chez Simone” gym/restaurant apartment, on the sports that will make your calories burn counter soar!
Boxing, 700 to 900 calories per hour
“The advantage with boxing is that you are in constant movement. There is no rest time like running, brisk walking, or even HIIT. This encourages always very intense efforts. “, explains Julie Aubert.
By alternating between the exercises of aero-kicks, the attacks, or even the cardio-kickboxing, we work both our breath, the muscles of the arms and legs and we improve our breathing. “The efforts can be so intense that you can lose between 700 and 900 calories (depending on your body size) per training session, which is enormous!”, Specifies the sportswoman.
Running, 500 to 1000 calories per hour
“There is no real contraindication for running, except for people with joint pain and muscle pain. In this case, they may prefer trail running in nature, to find themselves on softer ground and by extension, less hard than asphalt “, indicates Julie Aubert.
The running addict even specifies that more and more doctors are recommending the practice of this sport … to asthmatics! “Running helps them learn to regulate their breathing. Of course, it is not a question of doing sprints from the start, but of getting your body used to workouts that gain in intensity over the sessions”, explains. she.
For running, count an average of 500 to 1000 calories burned per hour of exercise.
Indoor cycling, up to 950 calories per hour
Recommended for those with joint problems, cycling (indoor cycling) is widely known for promoting fat burning, and by extension, calorie loss: up to 400 calories per one-day workout. hour, with an average speed of 20km / h. The fastest (which travel more than 30 km / h) spend up to 950 calories per hour.
It is a discipline mainly recommended for the elderly or those who are overweight because this sport allows them not to strain their joints. However, be careful to adjust the saddle of the bike correctly to avoid over-stretching the muscles and risking injury.
The rower, between 350 and 500 calories per hour
The rower, a real slimming ally for shaping the silhouette, is very popular in sports halls. However, it is an exercise that requires a lot of muscular endurance.
“I still think this is quite a complicated exercise for beginners to do. Even though the exercise is appealing in terms of calorie expenditure – you can burn between 350 and 500 calories if you do the exercise for 1 hour – you can quickly get tired of the very repetitive side, ”says Julie Aubert.
Despite everything, the young woman specifies that the rower remains an interesting movement for all those who have back pain because it allows them to work and to stretch the muscles of their back if they practice the movement gently.
The step, between 500 and 700 calories per hour
The step can be practiced in the fitness room or at home if you are equipped. At a rate of half an hour to an hour of medium to high-intensity lessons, you burn between 500 and 700 calories depending on your weight.
The goal? Going up and down the step, doing dance steps while alternating up and down, alternating between fast movements and slower movements. You mainly work on the lower body, with a lot of work on the thighs, buttocks, and calves … not to mention cardio.
The longer the sessions, the more the body consumes sugars and burns fat. However, the activity is not recommended for people with joint problems.
