Category Archives: Swim Spa

Swim spas have become a game changer when it comes to the opportunities that are available for people who want to swim at home. If you’re looking for a more compact and economic option than a full size swimming pool – with all of the advantages of a pool at home – then a swim spa could fit the bill precisely. Whether you’re keen to find a new way to exercise or looking to enjoy all the other benefits of hydrotherapy there are some very good reasons to consider getting a swim spa for your home.

• Easy to use in most spaces. Swim spas don’t require a huge property with extensive room to build a pool and they are much easier to install too. Plus, a swim spa is very simple to use – when you’re in the water you start swimming against the current system at a resistance that works for you.
• Swim spas are designed with exercise in mind. If fitness is your goal then a swim spa is a great idea because these are pools that are designed to help you achieve all your objectives. You can have a great workout in a swim spa whatever level you’re at and it’s simple to adjust the way that you use it so that you can set goals, improve, recover and achieve.
• Versatility is built in. You can choose to simply swim against the current in your swim spa, varying it depending on the workout you want that day or the training programme you’re working to. There are also many other ways to use your swim spa, including using the acqua fitness step that most models have built in or using accessories such as resistance bands or dumbbells to help optimise your workout.
• Enjoy the relaxing benefits of hydrotherapy too. Whether you’ve been exercising in the swim spa or elsewhere you can soothe tired muscles and relieve aches and pains by spending time in hot water. Many swim spa models also have a hot tub built in so you can get some massage jet action too.
• Supporting stronger immunity. Sweating and exercise – as well as the use of massage jets – can all combine to have a really positive impact where your immune system is concerned. Staying healthy is crucial for all of us right now and a swim spa can play a part in this, as exercise activates antibodies and white blood cells and can help your body to fight infections.
• Helping to manage stress. Whether you are struggling with work and homeschooling or just generally feeling the pressure of national restrictions and a lack of freedom, a burst of exercise in the swim spa could be just what you need to release that negative energy. Swimming is a full body exercise that requires concentration and activates all your muscles. It can relieve tension, physical and emotional, and help you feel refreshed and ready to take life on again.

Whether you’re keen to get fit – or looking for ways to wind down – having a swim spa at home can enhance your life experience in many ways.

Whether you’re looking to increase the value of your property or improve your experience of daily life, a swim spa can make all the difference. These are the top 10 reasons to have a swim spa in your life.

The right size for any space

If you’d like to have a pool but really only have the room for a hot tub then a swim spa is the ideal compromise. You’ll be able to exercise as if you had a pool and enjoy the benefits of hot tub hydrotherapy too. Swim spas are designed to fit most spaces and to be easy and quick to install.

All the benefits of a swimming pool

Although the swim spa is much smaller than a pool you’ll still be able to enjoy all the benefits. A current is created in the water by the swim spa and you can swim against this or use it to exercise in other ways, such as walking or jogging against it.

All the advantages of a hot tub

Many swim spas have the same features as a hot tub does, including massage jets and ergonomic seating, so you have the combined benefit of a pool and hot tub in one.

Access to hydrotherapy

Humans have used hydrotherapy for centuries as it’s incredibly beneficial for the body. It can be particularly useful if you’re recovering from an injury or in the treatment of chronic conditions, such as arthritis.

Soaking in a swim spa has lots of benefits

From the advantages of exercise to improving sleep and helping to ease aches and pains there are lots of very good reasons to get into your swim spa on a regular basis.

It’s just so convenient

If you’re the kind of person who struggles with exercise motivation then having a swim spa on your property could be life changing – no more excuses as all you have to do is jump out of bed and into the pool.

Improving the aesthetics of your outdoor space

Add some decking and flower beds around the swim spa, as well as loungers and even a bar space and your outside area suddenly becomes a seriously enjoyable and good looking part of the property.

Effective, low impact exercise

Thanks to the weightlessness of the human body in water, swimming is a very low impact exercise when it comes to the effect on muscles and joints. However, it’s high impact with respect to the way it can improve fitness, tone and burn calories. Plus, the water in the swim spa adds resistance so you can achieve even more from your workout than you would on land.

All year round use

You can control temperature in the swim spa so that it’s comfortable all year round – or get into cold water swimming and let the temperature drop in the winter months.

Somewhere to learn the basic skills

If you’re keen to learn to swim – or anyone in your family wants to acquire this skill – having a swim spa at home makes it easy. You don’t need to deal with open water until you’re ready or have people around you until you’ve built your confidence up.

A swim spa is a great asset to any home, adding to the aesthetics and providing a wealth of opportunities for a lifestyle upgrade.

Whether you choose a pool, a home swim spa or a body of wild water, swimming is a great commitment to make to your health. There are many benefits to getting into the water, from those that affect your resilience and fitness to the mental health boost that comes from activity and cold water. Swimming daily could be the best choice that you make for yourself in 2021 – here’s why:

It’s enjoyable

For any activity to be sustainable there needs to be a reason that you return to it again and again. Swimming is not just a great way to get fit but can also be very sociable and can help you to relax even during stressful times. You’ll start to notice the impact on your body quickly if you’re keeping up your swimming every day and so the sense of achievement will be strong.

Swimming has many physical benefits

When you’re swimming you’re getting a serious workout, often using all the muscle groups in the body but without the high impact you’d get if you were running or lifting weights. While your body doesn’t feel this impact stress swimming is an activity that increases your heart rate, burning calories and increasing fitness. It can improve your physical endurance and cardiovascular fitness and also tone and build strength in your muscles. Swimming is a great way to maintain your health not just in terms of weight and strength but also the function of your lungs and heart.

But that isn’t where the benefits stop

Yes you’ll get fitter and healthier if you’re swimming on a daily basis but that’s not the only way that you’ll benefit from committing to this activity. Swimming can help you to better manage stress, providing a time out from your daily life and making you feel more relaxed as it’s often a very peaceful activity. Swimming can also improve your physical condition and flexibility, as well as balance and posture. And if you’re swimming every day then you’re also likely to be able to use it as therapy for any injuries or existing conditions.

Swimming tips for 2021

• Decide where you want to swim and then look into what you need to swim there. This is especially important if you’re going to swim outside – for example, if you’re river swimming then you may need a tow float and river shoes.
• Be safe. If you’re not a confident swimmer then it makes sense to choose to swim in a lifeguarded pool.
• Take some lessons. Swim teachers are available for swimmers of any age – learn for the first time or get some tips to brush up on your technique.
• Build up gradually. Like any exercise you can over exert yourself if you go for it too hard initially so build up your strength gradually and set realistic targets for progress.
• Remember to rehydrate. You may not notice how hard you’re working as you can’t see sweat in water but you should always refuel and rehydrate after a swimming session.

These are just some of the benefits that you’ll see from swimming daily. Contact our sales team today to see how we can assist you with finding the perfect swim spa for your home…

It’s the time of year to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions again. If you always find that your resolutions tend not to stick then maybe it’s time for a rethink. Focusing on positive activities that are enjoyable as well as purpose-driven could be the secret to making sure that your resolutions last beyond the first week of the new year. Swimming is one of those activities that has a lot to give. It’s not only a great way to get fit, build muscle and stamina and reach personal fitness goals but there is also a strong social and wellbeing element too. So, how can you make swimming part of your new year resolution for 2021?

Work out where you want to swim

The simplest way to make swimming part of your daily routine might be to have a swim spa at home so that you can build fitness and enjoy the benefits of hydrotherapy without leaving your property.

Put together a training plan

You don’t have to be a professional athlete or an experienced swimmer to benefit from having a training plan. All that a training plan provides is a structure that you can use to gradually improve how you swim so that you can get more from the experience. There are plenty of swimming training plans available online, whether you find them via Swim England or from professional swimming coaches. You can also create your own training plan based on what you think you can do each week, working towards your own personal goals over a set period, such as six months.

Fuel your body

Nutrition is a big part of any exercise plan as it will provide your body with the fuel that it needs to reach the goals that you’ve set. Depending on your tastes and body requirements there are plenty of different options out there for ensuring that you’re fueling your body in the right way. Breakfast is often particularly important, especially if you’re planning to do your swimming training in the mornings, and it will be essential to ensure that you’ve got a plan in place to replace energy and nutrients when every session finishes.

Set yourself some goals

If you need some extra motivation to stick to your training plan – and new year’s resolutions – then how about setting some specific goals. These could be to sign up for a 2021 swimming event, take part in a triathlon or gain a professional swimming qualification.

Swimming is a fantastic way to fulfil fitness resolutions for 2021 and has a whole range of broader wellbeing benefits too. Find out how we can help you reach your fitness resolution with our self-cleaning swim spas…

Fitness is essential for overall health and wellbeing. However, a repetitive round of running or going to the gym can get boring. Swimming is a fantastic way to break this up and to get a full body workout in a more physically supportive environment. And if you need a break from swimming then there are lots of exercises that you can do in the water that can help to improve your fitness. Not only that but you’ll get the benefits of being immersed in water, from the additional resistance that this brings to any exercise, to the buoyancy of the water, which can take the pressure off muscles and joints. If you want to try some new pool exercises for the new year then these are some of our favourites.

1. Simple walking. This is a great way to get used to exercising in water and to improve fitness at the same time. In waist height water, start carefully putting one foot in front of the other, heel first and then toes with your arms at your side. Add in ankle or wrist weights to increase the challenge.
2. Jumping jacks. These are simple star jumps with the water at chest level. As you jump your feet out raise your arms over your head and then lower as you bring your feet back together. Repeat and add arm weights for more resistance.
3. Arm lifts. If you’re looking for an arm workout then stand in water that covers your shoulders, a water dumbbell in each hand with the palms facing up. Bring your elbows in close to your body as you raise your arms to water height. Rotate the dumbbells so your palms are facing down and lower. Repeat.
4. Core activators. Start holding on to the pool wall with your feet on the wall and then push off on your back. Pull your knees into your chest then lower them to the floor and run back to the side to start again.
5. Kicks. Hold on to the edge of the pool and cycle through repetitions of key swimming leg kicks – flutter kicks, scissor kicks, breaststroke kicks and dolphin kicks. Do each set of kicks for up to three minutes.
6. Lateral arm lifts. If you’re looking to build upper body strength this is a great option. Start standing in water up to your shoulders with your dumbbells at your side. Raise to the height of the water so they are level with your shoulders and then lower.
7. Leg shoots. Curl into a ball upright in the water, knees tucked in. Then shoot your legs out explosively so that you end up on your back. Curl your knees in and then do the same with your legs but this time finish on your stomach.
8. Ballet lifts. In waist height water stand on one leg and raise it with the knee bent until it’s parallel to the water. Extend the leg fully, hold and then lower with the leg straight. Repeat and then do the other side. Add ankle weights to make it harder.

These pool exercises will not only help to keep you fit in 2021 but bring an element of fun and variety to your workout too.

Swimming in the winter might seem like madness but there are some great benefits to doing this. Not only does it make you feel amazing but everything, from skin to heart health can be improved too. If you’re going to try winter swimming this year then these are our top tips.

• Start now. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or until you have all the right kit. If you’re feeling the desire to get in the water then go with the momentum and start today.
• Decide when you’re going to swim. Give yourself a regular swimming schedule and you’ll find it much easier to stick to regular dips. Choose one or two days a week that work for you and make sure you keep to them.
• Stay warm before you swim. If you’re already cold then you might find it harder to motivate yourself to get in the water – and to warm up afterwards. So, make sure that you stay toasty right up until the moment you’re ready for a dip.
• Swim at a time that works for you. For most people this is going to be the morning or during the day – in the evening it will get colder as the light fades and you might find it harder to motivate yourself to go.
• Choose social accountability to help you commit. Swimming with a friend is a great idea, not just from a safety perspective but also to make sure you actually go. If it’s just you then you won’t feel the same social accountability as if you have someone else who is expecting you to show up.
• Don’t hang around. Whether you’re swimming in a river, the sea or an outdoor pool make sure that you get in quickly. The initial flash of cold is the hardest so you need to get through it quickly to avoid backing out.
• Go for it as soon as you get in. The quickest way to feel warmer is to start swimming energetically as soon as you’re in the water. Warm up with a little freestyle and then start actively going for your lengths.
• Set some goals. Perhaps you want to swim further this winter or improve the quality of your stroke. Now is the ideal time for setting objectives and creating a training schedule or goals to make them happen.
• Think about the summer. Remember the start of the summer last year when you wished you’d done more swimming through autumn and winter to stay fit? Think about that as you’re getting in the water and how much better you’re going to feel when summer 2021 rolls around.
• Get warm as soon as you get out. Make sure that you take off wet swimwear straight away and get into warm clothes and a hat and cosy footwear. A hot drink is essential to help you warm up (avoid a hot shower as this can be too much for the body after a cold swim).

Winter swimming is a wonderful experience and can get you set up for more enjoyable summer swimming next year too.

Whether you’re swimming in a pool, lake or the sea there are many benefits to continuing to swim outside during the winter months. Fitness, resilience and the wellbeing and mood boosting impact of winter swimming are just a few of the advantages of getting into the water at this time of year. However, if you want to ensure that you get the most from swimming in the winter then it’s important to make sure you do it safely. These are our top tips for swimming throughout the winter this year.

• Get the kit that works for you. Some people choose to swim in swimwear all year round others opt for a wetsuit when the temperature starts to drop. Work out where your body most feels the cold and consider some extra protection there – that could be wetsuit boots for your feet, a hat or neoprene gloves, all of which can help you to retain body heat.
• Give yourself time to get used to it. Cold water swimming is a shock the first time but the secret is simply to carry on. Start with just a short period of time in the water and then build up from there as your body and mind begin to get more used to the experience.
• Don’t jump in. The shock of cold water can be dangerous if you just hurl yourself in. Instead of doing this and ending up gasping or choking just get into the water gradually instead.
• Choose your location carefully. If you’re planning to swim in open water then make sure you’re well aware of all the risks involved, including shipping traffic and rip tides. Don’t swim on your own and consider taking a tow float and wearing a bright hat so that you can always be seen in the water.
• Don’t force yourself to stay in for too long. In the summer we can stay in the water for a long time but that’s not the case in winter. In fact, many winter swimmers only dip into the water for a couple of minutes. You can still get the benefits of the cold water from this kind of short experience. Make sure you don’t push your body too far where the cold is concerned.
• Don’t have a hot shower. Hot water on a cold body can be dangerous so avoid a hot shower and let yourself warm up gradually instead. This means plenty of hot drinks and warm clothes. Many people invest in a changing robe for winter swimming – these have weather protection on the outside and are warm towelling on the inside. They can make getting warm and cosy again after your swim much easier to do.

Winter swimming has a lot of positive health benefits and can make you feel fantastic. It’s important to make sure that you choose where to swim wisely and that you’re prepared for the impact of the cold if you want to get the most from the experience.

If there is one time of year that can be particularly hard on the body it’s winter. Not only are we inside a lot more but we tend to indulge frequently and the weather can make it especially tough to get out and get some exercise. This time of year can be challenging but it also represents a great opportunity to do things differently. Swimming is the ideal form of exercise to take up in winter – it’s supported but strong, will help to keep you healthy and upbeat even on the darkest days and could enable you to meet new training goals too. These are just some of the reasons to start swimming during the winter this year.

• The calorie burn. Although exercise is always more fun if you’re not counting the impact on calories there is no escaping the fact that swimming really does a great job when it comes to helping you to burn off the effect of winter puddings or Sunday roasts. Depending on your weight, an hour of moderate swimming can burn up to 600 calories. The best way to take advantage of this (and to enjoy the process) is to start with shorter, regular swimming sessions several times a week and build up from there.
• Strengthen your core and abs. Swimming is full body exercise but does have particular benefits if you’re looking to sculpt those abs. Breast stroke is especially good for waistline definition while front and back crawl will work your obliques and so could help to get rid of annoying muffin tops. Focus on contracting your abs while you’re swimming and you’ll not only go faster and get a better workout but you’ll strengthen your core and get that ab definition too.
• Wellbeing and mental health. There are so many positive benefits to swimming when it comes to mental health, from the healthy fatigue and sense of achievement you’ll get afterwards to the fact that being immersed in water triggers an endorphin release in the body. Over time you’ll start to feel yourself getting stronger and swimming can also be a great social sport if you do it with someone else.
• Building muscle and strength. Swimming works almost every muscle group and does so in a very balanced way. Unlike some other sports where you will end up with very defined legs or arms swimming ensures that this strength is built right across the body. Make sure you vary your strokes and sessions to get the full benefit.
• Improving skin quality. The impact of water passing over the body while you’re swimming can be like a massage and help to firm and improve skin tone. Cellulite is very normal – everyone has it – but you could find that regular swimming helps to smooth out cellulite. The strength and muscle tone that you develop as a result of swimming could give you the confidence boost you need to be proud of your body as it is.

If you’re looking for a new activity this winter swimming has a lot of benefits. Speak to our team today to find out about our swim spas…

The seasons are changing – as the leaves change colour and the temperature drops it’s a clear sign that autumn is here. That means that you need to look after your pool differently. You might not be using it as much as during the hottest part of the year but that doesn’t mean that some maintenance isn’t still required. These are our top tips for pool maintenance this autumn.

Keep up with the cleaning

It can be tempting at this time of year to just put the cover on your pool and hope for the best until next spring. Not only will this make it difficult if you want to use the pool at all during the winter months but you may also find that it’s in a bit of a state next year. Regular cleaning in autumn is particularly important if you want to ensure that your pool remains in good shape through to next year.

• Do a full pool clean. If you want to avoid algae and other similar issues when the spring arrives then a full pool clean is essential. This means removing dead leaves and debris and then emptying the pool and giving the entire thing a good scrub. Brush the floor and walls, vacuum and make sure you clean the lint and skimmer baskets too.
• Focus on the filter. The filter is a tiny, but essential, part of your pool as it keeps it clean. So, take this opportunity to give the filter some attention. Give the filter a thorough clean and make sure you clean off any grease or oil that could harden and become tough to remove over the winter. You may also want to run the pool filter, both to check that it’s working and to help distribute any chemicals you’ve just added to the water.

Monitor the chemical levels of the pool

The pH level in your pool is an essential metric to keep an eye on. It should sit somewhere between 7.2 and 7.6 but you may find that this has changed as the pool has been in frequent use during the summer months. Make sure that you take steps to correct this if it’s not within range. Another essential chemical to check is the chlorine. Depending on the type of chlorinator you’re using this should be around 2-3 PPM (parts per million). Once you’ve finished checking the chemical levels you might want to add some algaecide to help ensure your pool stays algae free over the winter.

Cover the Pool

When you’ve finished the pool maintenance make sure you cover it once again to help avoid filter-clogging debris falling in. A good cover should keep material out and also help you to retain water.

It’s a good idea to carry out regular maintenance on your pool throughout the winter, from removing debris to checking the filter and administering a shock treatment to keep the water clean. That way, when the weather warms up again, the pool will be clean and ready for use.