Category Archives: Swim Spa

Whether you’re looking to lose weight or build muscle, swimming is a very effective way to do it. You can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour in your pool (depending on your stats you have and the exercise that you do) so if you’re looking for a really effective way to shape up you don’t have to put on a pair of trainers to see great results. Below are 6 reasons why we think the pool is a great calorie burner for everyone.

1. Swimming is effective, but low impact, exercise

Exercise can often take its toll on the body, whether that’s knee pain from running or back issues as a result of cross fit. However, when you’re swimming, the buoyancy of the water provides a much more supportive environment, which means that it’s an exercise option for anyone with chronic conditions, such as arthritis, people with sensitive joints and the elderly too.

2. You can get in the pool even if you’re injured

Swimming is often used in the path to recovery from injury because the water helps to cushion the impact of the exercise. There are lots of different options for the way you can use your pool to burn calories if you’re injured, from straightforward swimming with floats or buoyancy aids to water weight training or aqua aerobics.

3. A full body workout

One of the reasons that swimming is so effective is because it works the entire body. You can burn calories, build muscle and tone your body with a swim workout that combines various different strokes. If you want to get the most out of a workout in your pool then make sure that you warm up first. After that you can switch between swim sprint strokes like butterfly or front crawl with rest periods or slower lengths of breaststroke in between.

4. A genuine calorie burner

The number of calories you’ll burn while swimming will depend on your size and shape, gender, as well as a range of other factors. However, on average you can burn 300 – 444 calories an hour doing most strokes, from breaststroke to front crawl. And if you want to burn more calories? Simply swim faster and for longer.

5. Additional Resistance

Working out in water may make your body feel light but water actually adds resistance to a workout because it’s more than 700 times denser than air. That means that you’re not only able to get the benefits of a cardio workout in your pool but the strengthening and toning effect of pushing against the water too.

6. A real mood booster

Swimming has been used as a way to improve mood for thousands of years. The physical exertion can release endorphins into the body but swimming also has the potential to help calm frayed nerves and reduce anxiety as a result of the calming impact of the water.

Swimming in your pool is a great way to burn calories, shape up and improve overall wellness.

Exercising in water has many benefits. From supported movement that reduces impact on joints, to the increased resistance of working out in water – which is 800 times denser than air – this type of workout suits everyone, including those recovering from injuries and professional athletes. If you’re looking for inspiration for your water workout then here are 10 options to try.

1. Swimming

The simplest and easiest exercise in water is swimming. It can also burn around 500 calories an hour so is a very effective fat burner too.

2. Bicycle

With your elbows resting on the side of the pool, make sure you’re in deep enough water so that your legs are suspended. Then, begin to move your legs as if peddling a bicycle to improve muscle strength and tone.

3. Tuck jumping

This simple jumping exercise can be made more difficult by keeping your feet off the bottom of the pool between jumps. Stand in water up to your chest and jump, bringing your knees as far up as you can. Repeat in sets of 10 and do as many as you can.

4. Leg lifts

Position yourself so that your body and legs are flat out behind you while you lean on the side of the pool. Then begin lifting and lowering both legs at the same time. Keep your legs pressed together while you lift. This exercise is particularly effective thanks to the resistance of the water pressing down on your legs as you lift them towards the surface.

5. Water weights

You can use weights on arms and legs to help strengthen and tone, as well as building muscle. Make sure you’re using pool weights and add them into a workout that features moves such as a butterfly or bar lift.

6.  Water planking

Everyone knows how tough planking is but how beneficial it can be for building strength, especially in the core. Use a pool noodle for purchase and, pressing down on the noodle with your hands, lift your body into plank position. The resistance you’ll feel from the water will make this twice as effective an exercise.

7. Speed swimming

If you’re looking for a workout that will send your heart rate up then pick a speed stroke like front crawl and do as many laps as you can. A high intensity cardio option like this can burn up to 700 calories an hour.

8. Pile jumps and squats

With your feet together and knees bent out, jump as high as you can for multiple reps. This is a great exercise for toning legs and glutes, especially with the added water resistance.

9. Jog on the spot

Great for burning calories and building stamina, jogging on the spot is incredibly effective with the added resistance of the water. Make sure you keep your knees high.

10. Scissor lunges

Lunge forward with one foot then jump and scissor the legs so that you end up with the opposite foot in front. You can build strength and tone muscle with this exercise without putting pressure on the knees as you would on dry land.

These are just some of the water workouts you can use to get fitter and build strength, no matter what your skill level. Get in touch to find the perfect swim spa for you today.

Whether your swim spa is indoors or outside, and no matter what you use it for, a cover will be essential. From preserving the functionality of the swim spa to ensuring safety and curating aesthetics, there are many good reasons why investing in a well made swim spa cover is a great idea.

An eco approach

If you have a cover on your swim spa then this will help to maintain the temperature of the water. Heat rises so, without a cover, you’ll find much of the heat escapes and a lot more power is required to keep the swim spa warm. For those seeking a more eco friendly way to maintain a swim spa, a cover means you’ll need less energy to enjoy the same experience.

Improving the aesthetics

A good looking swim spa cover will only add to the aesthetics of your pool. The right cover will also make the space look more organised and ensure that you don’t have to look at water with debris floating in it.

Reducing the burden of cleaning and maintenance

If your swim spa is outside then there is a lot that can end up in the water, from insects through to leaves that have fallen from the trees. This not only looks unsightly but may also damage the swim spa, especially if it ends up clogging any of the mechanisms. If you want to keep cleaning and maintenance to a minimum, the addition of a cover will make this much easier to do.

Ensuring that your swim spa is safe

Especially if you have pets or small children it will be essential to cover exposed water, especially when there are no adults present to supervise. A professionally made, properly fitted cover minimises the potential for tragic accidents and gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you’ve taken all the steps you can to make your swim spa safe.

Better quality of water

When your swim spa is protected by a cover you’ll find that you don’t have to adjust the level of water or chemicals as often as for an unprotected pool. Water treatment chemical usage is reduced and the water in the pool is much less likely to evaporate as a result of being constantly exposed to the heat of the sun.

What to look for in your swim spa cover

Not every swim spa cover will deliver the best results. If you’re looking to ensure that you have the right cover for your pool then make sure the option you choose can offer:

• A custom fit that is snug to the design of your swim spa
• A cover guaranteed to keep debris out of the water
• Regular servicing and easy installation
• A safety-first design
• Lockable system to provide peace of mind, especially where there are young children or pets in the home
• Reliable design with great reviews
• Full coverage

We supply and install swim spa safety covers from one of Europe’s leading manufacturers – to find out more, get in touch or take a look at our range of Swim Spas today.

Working out in water is a great way to get all the benefits of exercise without the impact of gravity on the body. If you have access to a swim spa then there is plenty that you can do to use it to enhance your workout.

The benefits of exercising in water

There are many good reasons to consider using water in your exercise regime. The natural resistance of the water to movement means that the impact of every activity is optimised, for example. That same resistance also encourages a higher calorie burn – the body has to work harder in the water to complete the same exercises as on land so the rate of calorie burn is higher. Thanks to the way that water lessens the impact of gravity on the body it’s often possible to achieve a much wider range of movement when exercising in water. This also reduces the risk of injury by minimising the strain on joints and bones.

How to enhance your workout with a swim spa

Swimming

This is the most obvious way to use your swim spa for exercise. Swimming uses the entire body and is a great low impact way to exercise. Adding resistance by swimming against a current can help to considerably enhance the impact of this type of workout.

Jogging

For many people, jogging on land is the fastest way to get injured. However, in water this is a much more supported exercise but one that still achieves positive results – jog on the spot, lifting your knees as high as possible. Alternatively, you can switch on the jets and turn your back to them – studies have shown that walking or jogging backward tends to engage more muscles than regular jogging.

Other lower body exercise

There is a lot you can do in a swim spa to work the lower body, including kick backs – raising your leg behind you to the surface and squeezing the glutes as you do. Flutter kicks using the buoyancy jet can be very effective and the swim spa’s stairs provide an easy way to do step reps.

Core work

If it’s your core that you’re looking to work when you’re in the swim spa water planks are very effective – all you need is a pool noodle to act as a stabiliser. Water dumbbells can also come in useful, for example for doing core rotations, twisting to the right and left with the weights at shoulder height.

Enhancing an upper body workout

If you have a resistance band then a shoulder press is a very effective way to get more from a swim spa work out. Dumbbells can be used for chest presses and tricep pushes.

When you’re working out in a swim spa don’t forget that you’ll need to warm up, as for any other activity. You’ll also need to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water before and after your workout.

Call our team today on 0208 300 4003 to find the ideal swim spa for your lifestyle.

The new year is upon us and for many people that means setting new personal goals for 2019. If getting fit is at the top of your agenda this year then your swim spa can help you to achieve that essential lifestyle change. Whether you’ve got existing injuries that need careful management, or you just need a more supported way to exercise, working out in your swim spa is a great way to get fit for 2019.

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The size of a swim spa makes it very easy to accommodate, no matter how limited your space at home. However, while the swim spa itself may not require a large area, you can still swim considerable distance while using one. Thanks to the design of the swim spa, which uses a resistance current to give you a fantastic workout on the spot, there’s no limit to how much you can train, practice or get fit when you have a swim spa at home. This type of pool can also accommodate any stroke so, whether you’re looking to improve fitness or learn something new, you’ll have plenty of choice.

1. Butterfly technique

Let’s start with the one swimming stroke that takes the most effort and skill to perfect. If you’ve always wanted to master this one but never felt comfortable learning in public, your home swim spa is the ideal place to perfect your technique. Butterfly involves moving the arms forward, together, in a circular motion, while kicking your feet. This movement will push your chest up out of the water and power you forward in the most dramatic of ways. If you’re looking for an anaerobic element to your swim then butterfly delivers – it’s great for arms and core too.

2. Front crawl

If your target area for strengthening is your arms then perfecting your front crawl is a great goal to have. Although the legs continuously kick with front crawl, it’s the arms that do most of the work, alternately slicing forward into the water ahead to power you on. As well as strengthening the arms and back, front crawl will also improve overall fitness and swimming ability.

3. Breaststroke

If you’re doing breaststroke well then you should barely break the surface of the water. You won’t need your swim spa jets particularly high for this one, as it’s a slower stroke. However, you will still work your entire body by regularly practicing breaststroke in your swim spa. Both the arms and the legs are active, as well as the core.

4. Backstroke

If you’re looking to break between intense sessions, or keen to find a technique where your face is not in the water, backstroke is a great option. Turn the jets down lower on your swim spa for backstroke and let your arms do all the work. You’ll get a great workout for back and arm muscles and a medium one for the legs too.

5. Sidestroke

If you’re keen to ensure you’re working the muscles in the side of your body, as well as your arms and legs, sidestroke is the technique to master. When you’re practicing sidestroke, make sure that you spend an equal amount of time on both your right and left sides.

These are just some of the techniques you can learn to practice in your swim spa to get fitter, healthier and more proficient at swimming in general. Get in touch for advice from our expert team about which Swim Spa is best suited to your requirements.

A swimming pool is a fantastic asset in any home. From providing a location for socialising to helping your family to implement genuine lifestyle change, there are lots of reasons why it makes sense to take the plunge and have your very own swimming pool.

1. You can increase the value of your home

In fact, estimates suggest that adding a swimming pool to your property can increase its value by around 15%. Buyers will pay more for a swimming pool and, for some, it’s a deal breaker.

2. Swimming at home is safer

If your kids are playing in the pool in the garden it’s much easier to keep an eye on them than if they are in a public pool or at someone else’s home. With a pool at home you can teach them how to be safe in the water from an early age.

3. Create a space for making great family memories

It can be difficult to make real family time, especially once your kids become teenagers. However, if you have a pool at home then you have a space where everyone can congregate without the distraction of a TV screen or anywhere to plug in a smart phone.

4. A great way to entertain

If you’re the neighbour with the pool then you’ll instantly find your home is popular, especially on hot summer days. Home swimming pools are great for socialising and can make any summer party extra special. Your kids will be even more popular during the summer holidays too when every child in the neighbourhood wants a pool to cool off in.

5. Hydrotherapy is great for relaxing

When you get home after a hard day, a dip in the pool can be reviving and refreshing. Water therapy is renowned for helping the body to relax and distress. Whether you swim or just soak, the luxury of a pool at home makes it much easier to wind down and chill out.

6. Save money on holidays and vacations

Although you’ll still want to go away on holiday, if there are times when you can’t then a pool at home still means the family can have a great summer. With plenty of options for pool financing, it doesn’t have to cost as much as you might think.

7. Be creative with your swimming pool

If you think your property deserves much more than a simple pool then you have plenty of options, from slides and waterfalls to fountains and sculptures.

8. Improving health and fitness

Swimming is fantastic exercise that works the whole body in a supported way. With a pool at home there’s no excuse for not sticking to your exercise schedule so you can make great progress towards your fitness goals.

9. Cool off in the summer

There is nothing – not even iced drinks or air conditioning – that beats a pool for escaping the summer heat.

10. The right pool is a great investment

Unlike an experience or a trip, a pool is permanent so your family can enjoy a pool at home for years to come.

If you’d like to discuss your options for a swimming pool at home, please contact a member of The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company team today.