Blog

Championship season is exciting for all competitive swimmers, but it comes with a ton of preparation.This comes with buying a new tech suit. Worried about finding the right tech suit? Here are some facts to know when buying a tech suit.

What’s the importance of a tech suit? Why are they any better than a regular swimsuit? A tech suit is designed to reduce your drag in the water and help you efficiently move through the water. Tech suits are made from water-repellent fabric and don’t soak up all the water like a normal swimsuit does! They offer compression which is shown to be effective in improving circulation and can have an overall positive effect on recovery. 

One thing you will notice with most tech suits and swim jammers is that they are very smooth. Almost seamless? Don’t worry, this is on purpose! By removing the seams through multiple stitching and designing the seams to direct the flow of the water, the suits become closer to being a second skin that allows you to move faster and more freely through the water. Fastskin suits are designed to give you a slight bump in performance.

When buying a Fastskin, size doesn’t matter. Are you a 24”? Tech race suits are going to be different sizes. They are designed to be tighter fit so you get all the benefits of the suit! Also, it is often that a swimmer’s body changes size as they grow, change and develop. You want a suit that fits you and that you feel ready to race in. Sizing is just a number! Measure to find your current sizes to compare to size charts to find the size that you need.

Try on a few styles before making a decision! Many female swimmers prefer the classic open back suit, but there are both closed back and powerback suits to be considered. Are closed back suits harder to bend, twist and move in? Not at all! Try on different styles to find the one that is best for you and that you feel the most comfortable in. It’s important to get a good feel of your options to find the best fit.

Remember, you’re the one wearing the tech suit. You are the one that has to race in it! So, make sure you feel confident in the tech suit you choose. 

Tech suits are not cheap. They are an investment, especially in a swimmer’s training and success. You don’t wear tech suits to regular swim meets. Tech suits are made so you can invest in your goals and designed for the athletes at their most elite competitions. They are racing suits for when you are prepared to race! 

Shopping for a new race suit is an exciting task, not something that should be daunting and scary. It means that your big competition is coming up and you are achieving your goals!

At ProSwimwear, we have a large range of performance suits to browse through. Check them out here: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/fina-approved-swimwear.html 

Still have questions? Contact us at ProSwimwear about any of the tech suits on our website and our customer service team will be ready and excited to help you get the perfect race suit for you.

Congratulations! You’ve just given birth and have a lovely bundle of joy. We know swimmers after giving birth that hop straight back into the pool like they never left, but for others the routine can be a struggle. With less time and less energy, it can feel discouraging when you have to stop and rest more frequently. While it’s not easy to get back into your swimming routine after giving birth, exercise is important. Here are some of our top tips to help you get motivated to return to swimming after giving birth. 

Your doctor will provide the best medical advice about when you can safely start swimming after giving birth, so make sure to follow that before getting back into the water. Every woman’s body is unique and will respond differently, so do not be disheartened if you are not back in the water as quickly as others. As a general rule of thumb, you should wait until your six-week check-up before returning to skilling, as this will allow your body to appropriately heal before entering the water. It will provide enough time for vaginal bleeding, called lochia to stop. When the vaginal discharge stops, it signifies that your body is recovering properly.

What are the benefits of swimming after giving birth? Swimming is a great form of exercise that works out all the muscles in your body and is a low-impact exercise that helps improve physical and mental health after giving birth. It can contribute to weight loss and toning your muscles. For mental health, it can be a form of stress relief and helps decrease the effects of postpartum depression. 

If you swam before pregnancy, it is great to get your body and mind back into a familiar routine. Even if you are new to swimming, the benefits for your health are rewarding as it will help elevate your mood and energy levels.

Exercise should be made a priority, as it will help you feel more energetic, and the health benefits justify the time investment. In order to get back into exercising, here are some tips: 

Hold yourself accountable, and put it into your schedule just like any other appointment, and don’t let yourself cancel unless you have a really good reason to. 

Swimming may not be enjoyable at first if your physical health has deteriorated a lot. Create some positive motivation by promising yourself to get a reward! Maybe a little treat after each workout or a new swimsuit, or even watching your favourite TV show afterward. Allow yourself to be rewarded for your exercise and workouts to help get motivated for the next time you visit the pool.

Do you want to lose the baby weight? Get back into swimming? Swimming for a little me-time? Identify why you want to swim and set some manageable goals for you to reach that can help motivate you as needed. If your overall objective seems overwhelming, break it down into smaller goals to tackle each week to reach your goals.

If you feel like your exercise routine is becoming repetitive with the same exercises time and time again, try bringing some variety to it! Work on different swimming strokes, alternate your swimming routine with some dryland training or playing other sports. Keep your routine fun, exciting, and explore new ideas!

We tend to create our own goals, so make sure to think of yourself as a swimmer and not an ex-swimmer, you can practise visualisation exercises of yourself completing the swim, and remember all of your favourite swim experiences from the past and remember the positive emotions that brought you to the sport to begin with. 

On one day, you’ll have more energy than the next day. That’s okay! Any exercise is better than none, so don’t worry if you can’t do your full-body workout. Don’t feel bad if you have to skip a day because your energy is low. What’s important is to develop healthy habits and lifestyles. It can be easy to get focused on caring for your family and put your own needs last, we get it. But exercising, along with eating healthily and finding ways to manage stress, are more important than ever now that you’re a parent.

While the first weeks of postpartum might feel challenging as a new parent, it is important to keep in mind the benefits of exercise to not only your body, but your mental health. As your energy levels improve, and you begin getting back in shape, you will be in a great mindset to take care of your new baby and yourself!

Competitive swimmers know there are set rules to follow whilst swimming to ensure good lane etiquette and keeping peace between swimmers. For those new to competitive swimming, don’t worry we have you covered! Here are the rules to abide by when swimming in the lanes!

Getting into a lane

Choose the right lane for you. You may frequent the fast lane, but that doesn’t mean it’s always going to be the right lane for you. The best lane is the lane that will not impact your performance or your fellow swimmer’s performance. Take a second to evaluate the lane speeds before getting into the water. Be sure to observe the lane direction to see which direction you should be swimming. Clockwise? Anti-clockwise? Make sure you know the flow of the lane.

There should be lane signs to refer to in case you are unsure. If you are still unsure, check with a lifeguard! Don’t be the one to swim in the wrong direction as this can be dangerous. Just take a second to know you’re going the right way around.

Now you understand the lane you plan to get into, make sure it is clear when you get in. Don’t slide straight in! Make sure there are no oncoming swimmers before you enter the pool. If there is no safe space to jump in, sit to the side to indicate to other swimmers that you are there and ready to join the lane. Only join when safe to do so.

Don’t push off straight away behind a fellow swimmer. If you are close to the swimmer ahead of you, the more the person is dragging you along. Your swim becomes easier and theirs becomes harder. Wait a minimum of five seconds before pushing off - wait even longer if possible!

Be mindful of others

Certain swimming techniques require you to be more streamlined, keeping your arms and legs closer to your body, such as front crawl and backstroke. When it comes to techniques such as butterfly or breaststroke, you will be taking up more space with wider strokes. Be mindful of your fellow swimmers when practising. If possible, move to an empty lane when practising these techniques. Or you could pull one arm stroke where possible and try to reduce the size of your kick when passing another swimmer.

If someone touches your foot when swimming, don’t panic! Swimmers often tap each other’s feet to let them know they want to pass you. If your foot is tapped, all you have to do is move either to the wall or to the lane rope and let them pass by! Swim until you reach the end of the lane and stop at the wall to let them turn ahead of you. 

Taking a break

Need a break? When you need to stop, tuck yourself into the corner of the lane or sit on the poolside. Remove yourself from the end of the lane to allow other swimmers to carry on with their set without any disruptions.

When you’re taking a break, you shouldn’t ever hang off the lane ropes! Not only could you cut yourself, but the lane becomes loose and starts to wobble, effecting both your lane and the neighbouring lane.

And remember, when getting back into the lane, treat it as if you’re getting in for the first time! Check for other swimmers before getting in and keep your distance from the swimmer ahead of you.

Other etiquette rules

Don’t take equipment from others! When there are floats placed at the end of a lane, it’s because a swimmer has chosen to put them there and will be using them for their training plan. Be sure to have all your own equipment before swimming!

Be prepared. At ProSwimwear, we have a great range of equipment available for this: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/swimming-accessories/swimming-training-aids.html 

Now you know the rules of the lane! Remember to check your surroundings and be aware of other swimmers. 

Triathlon season is fast approaching! Still trying to improve your swimming technique for your next triathlon? We’ve got you covered! Here is how you can improve your technique for triathlons.

Bilateral breathing will open up the ability to take in what is happening around you, but can also reduce damage to your shoulders and neck from the repetitive motion of only breathing on one side. By doing this, you will be able to see more of your surroundings and see any hazards, such as oncoming waves or other swimmers. Try learning to breathe on both sides of your stroke. It will also help make your stroke more symmetrical.

Swimming in open water can throw a lot of variables into the mix. Many routes for triathlons include a turn around a buoy and swimming blindly with your head down will put you at a disadvantage. Identify landmarks before you swim that you will easily recognise and be able to see when taking a quick check of your surroundings.

To sight properly, lift your head slightly up so that only your eyes appear above the surface. Quickly scan to place where you are before lowering your head back underwater. You can do this as often as needed to understand your location and with your positioning in the race.

A major part of success in triathlon is being able to distribute the workload amongst you and your fellow competitors, it is key to not waste unnecessary effort on your first discipline, that you’ll be wanting to save for the rest of your swim. Identify the strongest swimmers around your pace level, and position yourself slightly to the side of them, making sure that you breathe away from the side of the swimmer’s leg. Make sure to push when you have the energy to do so! 

Keeping a high position in the water will keep your legs from weighing you down and sinking into the water, reducing the drag from your own body. Your wetsuit should assist with buoyancy but having the best head position will help guide the rest of your body through the water. Keep your fingers and toes closed to keep your streamline position throughout your body and you will see an increase in your efficiency!

For many triathletes, swimming can be their weakest of the three sports. However, making improvements to your swimming technique will help you move up through the ranks! Try out the points above and win your next triathlon.

The weather is getting warmer and those competitions are getting closer. The idea of your child swimming can sound more appealing during the nice weather as a way to keep them healthy. But, is your child looking to become a competitive swimmer? Here are a few things you should know before your child competes.

Don’t skip the basics! Your child should feel comfortable in the water and have a good level of confidence. Practise those four techniques used in competitive swimming: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Swim programs are perfect to help a child prepare for swimming at a next level, helping your child to perfect their technique.

The team you decide to go with should fit what you and your child want out of swimming. Having a good team with similar goals in mind will help build confidence in your child and allow them to have friends who are also going through the same struggles to support each other and push each other on to achieve their goals. 

Having the right gear is important for any competitive race. Check with the coach or instructor to see what is required for your team members. Some essentials you will need are goggles and caps! Also make sure to have spares of everything, including their swimsuit in case any issues arise, such as a strap breaking. 

Unlike other sports, swimming is a low-impact sport that helps prevent strain. Swimming is a sport that can be a lifelong activity for your child, even one that can be a launching point if they are interested in pursuing competitions and triathlons at younger ages. Although swimming is a team activity, your child will often be competing in individual events. Keep in mind that your child will put in a lot of practice before the competition!

Most importantly, your child’s safety should come first. Your child should be monitored in the water, even after a child learns to swim and improves their skill. It’s crucial to prevent drowning and other accidents happening by going to practices where you and the instructor can keep an eye on your child.

Is your child heading to their first swim meet and you’re not sure what to expect? Check out more information here: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/blog/what-to-really-expect-at-your-childs-first-swim-meet-/ 

One rule all swimmers and coaches agree with on race day is keeping your routine and sticking to strategies that you know work and lead to your best performance. Have a series of checklists that will help set you up to achieve your peak performance. In this blog, we will go through the different ways to prepare for that big race.

Competitions push a swimmer to their limit, adding additional challenges. Swimmers often have to warm up multiple times during the day, once at the beginning of a session and again before each swim. Most warm-ups in the water consist of a moderate level of swimming, maybe try 400 to 800 metres! This can include stroke drills and even high intensity workouts that last around 50 seconds. 

Here are a few things you can do to help prepare that little more:

• Finish your main warm-up at least 30 minutes before you have to race.
• Finish your pre-event warm-up as close to the start of the event as possible. Leave it to the last five minutes of when your race is to begin
• If possible, try getting back into the water 10 to 15 minutes before the race.
• Only work your body enough to warm it up! Don’t work so hard that you fatigue your body before stepping up on the blocks!

As important warming up in the water is for a race, you should also incorporate dryland training into your warm-up, especially if the pool space at a competition is limited and no warm-up pool is available. Dryland training can improve a swimmer’s power, athleticism and speed for when they get back into the water. 

Swimmers need a strong core to transfer force efficiently from one part of the body to another, to push off from the wall and essentially win the race. Good core strength enables the swimmer to accelerate faster and to carry more speed in a dive. Core training can help to improve your breathing flow in the water, improve posture and upper body strength. You can do many dryland workouts that help to improve core strength, such as using resistance bands or doing sit-ups. Dryland training has many benefits for a swimmer. Want to learn more on why dryland training is important to a swimmer? Read more here: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/blog/why-you-should-begin-dryland-training-/ 

Although your physical ability and health is important for a race, being mentally prepared and ready for a race is also very important. Having a well-known routine that helps prepare your brain for the race is always a great way to have your mind focused and will help to increase your performance.

Having strong self-confidence is also important to being prepared for a race. When a swimmer is able to see future successes as part of their mental preparation, their confidence isn’t too far behind. Confidence is something you can train and sharpen and isn’t something you have to fake. Recognising what you have done well helps to boost your self-esteem and to appreciate how far you have come. Want to learn more on how swimming increases self-esteem and confidence? Read more here :https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/blog/how-swimming-increases-self-esteem/ 

Overall, preparing for your race on the day should be with workouts and routines you are familiar with. Have confidence in yourself and don’t tire your body during warm-ups! We wish you the best of luck with your next competition!

As we turn the corner into spring, the days start getting longer and the nights get warmer, and the idea of getting into the pool is more tempting with the nicer weather. As swimmers we love this time of the year, when the temperature rises and we can spend time in the pool more frequently. It comes as a welcome relief after months of bitterly cold temperatures. 

We can now put away the scarves, woolly hats and gloves and trade them for our goggles and a swimming cap! The weather is getting warmer and diving into water feels refreshing in the increasing temperature. A quick dip in the pool after a long day is something you can do to help relieve that stress and get back into your swimming exercise routines! 

If you’ve taken time away from swimming during winter or are new to swimming, spring is the perfect time to get back into the sport as the weather gets better. Spring swimming lessons are starting back up, meaning anyone who wants to get into swimming can sign up and start enjoying the sport that swimmers love. Give it a go!

Outdoor swimmers love that they can go for an after-work swim and not be swimming around in darkness. Longer days mean more hours to enjoy swimming and practising your techniques! Now is the perfect time to get into open water swimming now that the temperature is warmer outside than in the pool.

As the temperature starts to get warmer and starts swimming outside, whether that be in a swimming pool, lake or river, you might even get a spring glow! The UV light levels start to increase and help to increase your mood positively, and give you a tan! But make sure you are wearing UV goggles to protect your eyes from that sun! You can always find UV goggles at ProSwimwear. Check them out: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/swimming-goggles.html 

It is the new swimsuit season! We can’t deny this is one of the most exciting things about this time of year when you can go shopping for new colourful and bright swimsuits! Your swimsuit should be fun, make you look great and feel great, so have fun finding a swimsuit that is perfect for you this spring! We have lots of colourful swimsuits with great deals you won’t find anywhere else at ProSwimwear, so have a browse on our website!

All in all, spring is a great time to get yourself back into swimming, or if you’re new to swimming to start getting involved with the sport and is an exciting time for all swimmers. 

See you out in the water!

Orca have spent the past 25 years designing and developing a high performance collection of swimming wetsuits. From beginner to expert, Orca triathlon wetsuits are designed for every ability level and budget. Orca have a new range of wetsuits with new materials and specifications, not just new graphics, making model by model updates to their wetsuits! Let us break down the new Apex and Athlex range of Orca wetsuits!

Below is a guide to show the changes to the new range!

APEX WETSUITS

Apex Flow

Replacing the Predator wetsuit is the Apex Flow wetsuit. Having the best combination of buoyancy and flexibility, the Apex Flow wetsuit brings new and improved body support. With big improvements on flexibility and having optimised fit, this wetsuit will help you find the right position in the water. With its great buoyancy, you will be fast in the water and have every possible technical advantage you can have. It will help you to save time and energy in the swim and to put you in the best position for biking, helping you to aim for that podium!

Material: Yamamoto Neoprene #40 and #44

Coating: Nano Ice SCS

Apex Flex 

Replacing the Alpha wetsuit is the Apex Flex wetsuit. For the natural swimmer, The Apex Flex wetsuit now has new improved fit and the highest flexibility with the most freedom of movement. They have designed this wetsuit to be easier to get on compared to its 2021 alpha counterpart. The Apex Flex is usually used for short and middle distances and is perfect for a swimmer looking for a light and very flexible wetsuit. This is perfect for a swimmer who has been swimming for a few years with a neutral position in the water.

Material: Yamamoto Neoprene #40 and #44

Coating: Nano Ice SCS

Apex Float

Replacing the 3.8 wetsuit is the Apex Float wetsuit. For the swimmers looking for the most support in the water, look no further than the Apex Float! With its increased flexibility and highest level of corrective buoyancy, you will be fast in the water and the suit will help you to find the right body position in the water, helping to provide leg support. This is perfect for any triathlete trying to save their legs for biking and running, helping to improve their overall performance.

Material: Yamamoto Neoprene #39 and #40

Coating: Nano Ice SCS

ATHLEX WETSUITS

Athlex Flow

Replacing the Sonar wetsuit is the Athlex Flow wetsuit. For the swimmer with concrete goals in mind, the Athlex Flow wetsuit will be perfect for you. With good flexibility and buoyancy, it will help with the correct body position in the water and can be used at all distances. This wetsuit will give you the perfect balance between buoyancy, flexibility and technical features while not spending too much.

Material: Yamamoto Neoprene #39 

Coating: SCS

Athlex Flex

Replacing the Equip wetsuit is the Athlex Flex wetsuit. Looking for a flexible suit for entry-level? The Athlex Flex wetsuit is light and flexible that is perfect for all distances. Having the most freedom of movement, this wetsuit will help you to move fast through the water.

Material: Yamamoto Neoprene #39 

Coating: SCS and Smoothskin

Athlex Float

Replacing the S7 wetsuit is the Athlex Float wetsuit. For those swimmers that may need a little more assistance on their position in the water, the Athlex Float wetsuit is a good entry-level model wetsuit with good corrective buoyancy. This wetsuit has good flexibility and strong support that can help you travel all distances.

Material: Yamamoto Neoprene #39 

Coating: SCS and Smoothskin

You can now buy these wetsuits here at ProSwimwear! Check them out here: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/brands/orca/orca-wetsuits.html

There is an interesting relationship between self-esteem and sport. But did you know that swimming can help boost self-esteem? Here is how!

Swimming helps to tone muscles and build strength, helping many swimmers build a toned physique that they are proud of and feel confident in. How we see ourselves through our eyes can affect how confident we are about ourselves. It is the personal enjoyment of swimming that can boost someone’s self esteem. Get a swimsuit that makes you feel valued and brings a smile to your face when you wear it. If we add physical and aesthetic benefits of a sport activity into the water, your self-esteem can only benefit you.

Self-esteem in swimming isn’t all about the physical attributes of the exercise. Confidence is something you can train and sharpen and isn’t something you have to fake. Recognising what you have done well helps to boost your self-esteem and to appreciate how far you have come. Are you good at the butterfly technique? How about breaststroke? Maybe you’re struggling with a certain technique? Believing in yourself that you can achieve your goals and overcome any challenges will help you to achieve them! Remember, swimming is fun and you should only ever swim for yourself.

Set yourself goals to reach that are realistic, yet push you. Make sure you feel that you can reach a goal before you make it so you don’t get frustrated. Make small and achievable goals to help you boost your confidence and enjoy the small victories to help you get to those big goals. As your skills, strength and stamina increase through training, you’ll have more confidence in your ability as you will be able to visually see yourself improve! Embrace the challenge to reach your goals and support yourself through the challenging times. You can do it!

If you are part of a team or community, your peers, coach and family can be the boost you need. Your swim team will go through similar struggles with winning and losing and will be there to support you. Having similar like-minded individuals to encourage you, believe in you, and push you to achieve your goals are sometimes the ones you need to help build your self-esteem.

Swimming from a young age helps a child to become more confident in the water and in themselves, lessons help them improve their social skills as well as their confidence that can be used outside of the pool. Having control of an environment that can be potentially unsafe helps a child to feel as though they can achieve anything! Looking for how you can increase your kid’s water confidence? Read more here: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/blog/how-to-increase-your-kids-water-confidence-/ 

In conclusion, swimming can help you to stay healthy, happy and more prepared. Perhaps try swimming? It might be the boost you need.

If you already love swimming, you don’t need to be reminded about the benefits of the sport. If you’re a keen swimmer and are looking to take your practice to the next level you may want to consider competitive swimming. 

Whether you choose to train and compete in a club environment or continue solo is up to you. A club environment provides you with a community to interact with, get tips from and to build friendships within, while also giving you the structure to your training routines. A club can make a swim meet incredibly fun and exciting, spending a lot of time with your team and helping to support each other. 

Another great benefit of competitive swimming is the versatility in training, where you can choose between breaststroke, butterfly, and other techniques. Will you focus on a sprint or endurance event? 

You can also add training aids to help your sessions, such as kickboards or fins, that can test and push your technique, and challenge your ability to focus. Make sure to check out our range of training aids:

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/swimming-accessories/swimming-training-aids.html

With a more dedicated schedule and more swim meets to attend, this means you will need competitive swimwear that is going to support you through your competitions. Investing in competitive swimwear will help to boost your performance, keeping you as streamlined as possible. The FINIS range of swimwear is designed to help swimmers by better improving their performance. Check out our FINA swimwear that we offer at ProSwimwear:

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/fina-approved-swimwear.html?approval=284

Swimming can also help to boost your mood and focus, helping to improve mental health. Being a part of a club offers you support from like-minded swimmers. Swimming helps to decrease stress and anxiety, but in competitive swimming, you can increase your mental health from the benefits of this sport. Learn more about how swimming improves your mental health here:

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/blog/how-swimming-can-improve-your-mental-health-/

It is important to train your mind, once you know that swimming has many health benefits and is a great exercise to keep you physically fit with a toned/lean body shape, competitive swimming does this and trains your mind too! Both your body and mind will be working at full capacity, it may help you focus on other areas of your life as well. 

We wish you the best of luck at your first swimming competition! Your first medal is just around the corner!

So you have your first race coming up? How exciting! It’s time to prepare and make sure you have everything for the big day! There is always a lot to remember to take with you to a race day, as well as what you should be doing to make sure your body is prepared before a race. Not sure where to start? Let us help!

1. Get your swimming gear packed, ready for the race the next day. Prepare your meals for the day, including your breakfast so you don’t have to rush around in the morning finding food to eat. Plan your snacks for the day too! Need some help with what food is the best to eat before a swim? Read our ‘What you should eat before a swim’ blog for some suggestions: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/blog/what-you-should-eat-before-a-swim/ 
2. Check your tickets and ID, which bag you plan to take, your water bottle, and any other equipment you possibly could need. Organise this all before race day so you can focus on the race with no distractions or worries.
3. Get a good few nights of sleep before race day and make sure you stretch before the race. Warming up before the race will help get your body ready and in the zone. Training normally slows down before a race, so make sure your body is prepared in time for the race.
4. You know your mind better than anyone else, so make sure you get yourself in the zone. You can do this by plugging in your headphones and listening to music. 
5. Make sure that you know your end goal, and that you race hard with maximum input. You want to ideally keep realistic goals from your training, to not get disappointed, and should organise yourself accordingly to reach these goals. You know what you want from the race, so go for it.  
6. Make sure you get to the swim meets early! They can be very hectic and can often mean you are rushing around and stressed if you aren’t prepared. Know your event, your heat numbers, race times, and your block position. Make sure you know this information for yourself, even if you have to write it all down!

These steps will help you in your swimming race, but remember that it is all meant to be fun, and if you don’t reach your personal goals this time, work for it for the time after. So race hard, the biggest competition is yourself! 

Do you have a child preparing for their first swim meet and not sure what to expect? We can help! Check out our blog on what you should really expect at your child’s first swim meet:

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/blog/what-to-really-expect-at-your-childs-first-swim-meet-/

Swimming is a vigorous exercise that works out every muscle in your body. But did you know dryland training improves a swimmer’s power, athleticism, and speed when they get back in the water? Having a good warm-up and warm-down routine can help to aid with recovery and to help with pre-race preparation both physically and mentally. Here are some reasons why dryland training is important for a swimmer and highlights portable equipment to aid you anywhere.

Swimming alone does not build muscle. During strength training exercises, you are fighting against gravity to create resistance against the heaviness of the weight, making the muscle experience micro-tears that repair and help the body to develop muscle. 

Resistance bands are an essential tool for most athletes. Not only are they multifunctional, but they can also be utilised by most athletes to improve recovery, flexibility, mobility, and power. At ProSwimwear, we have resistance bands that range from light to strong.

Our lowest Fitness Mad resistance band is ideal for those new to resistance training or for recovering from injury. 

Fitness Mad Light Resistance Band- 15m:

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/fitness-mad-light-resistance-band-roll-red-15m.html

We also offer a light resistance band in 1.5 metres:

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/fitness-mad-light-resistance-band-red-1-5m.html

If you’re looking for a resistance band that is stronger and gives a bit more of a challenge, we have these too! Our black coloured bands offer a higher amount of resistance compared to the red ones. The stronger resistance bands can be used for various purposes, to increase or decrease an exercise's difficulty for example.

Fitness Mad Strong Resistance Band- 15m:

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/fitness-mad-strong-resistance-band-roll-black-15m.html

Fitness Mad Strong Resistance Band- 1.5m:

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/fitnessmad-resistance-band-black-1-5m.html

In any sport, core strength is important for posture, agility, and balance - swimming is the same. Swimmers need a strong core to transfer force efficiently from one part of the body to another, to push off from the wall and essentially win the race. Good core strength enables the swimmer to accelerate faster and to carry more speed in a dive.  

Shoulder injuries are the most common in swimmers, this is caused by the repetitive motions performed in a swimmer’s daily training, when the same muscles are used they can get overworked and stressed. To remedy this, it is important to incorporate dryland exercises to relieve tension in muscle groups.  

Swimming is a sport for all ages and abilities and has a diverse range of people invested in it. Despite this, lifelong swimmers have many characteristics in common.

Swimming becomes a constant factor in someone’s life who swims regularly for many years. It reaches their persistence and consistency, often forming a routine on when they swim and how long for. Although the odd injury may get in the way, it often makes a swimmer want to return to swimming and get back connected with the water. These people also find it easier to quickly get back into swimming after being absent for a while. 

To be a confident swimmer, a degree of self-belief is necessary, you need to believe that you are strong and capable, because if you do not have that level of confidence in yourself you will not flourish and perform your personal best, whether it’s racing in a competition or managing to do 5 lengths in your local swimming pool without having a break. Tying in with this is a commitment to the sport, because if you do not focus on your swim stroke and practice, then the level of improvement you will have will not be noticeable enough. 

Lifelong swimmers often are more open to new swimming experiences and ideas. Open water swimming? Sure! Competitions? Absolutely. These swimmers get to experience new adventures and even possibly find something new that they love. Experiencing more and swimming for a long time will give you better knowledge about swimming. These kinds of people often go out of their way to encourage others to take up swimming and help them to stick with it!

People who swim long-term often become a part of a community, gaining new friends in the sport that can help to push each other to reach their goals. This can make a swimmer reliable and committed to the sport, the community, and their new network of friends.

Lastly, patience is vital because changes in your ability will not happen overnight, and it is likely you will face a lot more losses than wins due to the competitive nature the sport sometimes has, or even trying to beat your own personal best. This, however, could be why the sport is so popular as effort placed in often shows results. Relating to the points above, optimism is a helpful trait for swimmers, especially when they have to take a break from swimming for recovery or press on through a race when their body is hurting. In the face of adversity, optimism can help you to push on and complete your goals.

Whether you’re swimming in a team, or recreationally, Proswimwear has a vast range of training aids and swimwear that can help you meet your own personal goals. 

Be sure to check it out!

Having a sore back can be painful and annoying, even debilitating on some days. The everyday pressure onto your spine makes everyday tasks that little bit harder, or maybe even a lot harder to complete. Swimming can help to relieve some of that back pain naturally. Here’s why!

The water offers a release of stress and tension on the muscles. The buoyancy of the water supports your body weight, reducing the stress on your joints and spine. It can also help to calm the nervous system in your neck, back, and head. The water has a much lower impact on your spine than on other forms of exercise, removing the force of impact and making it less damaging to the spine. In water, your body moves slower and softer, allowing you to twist and turn in ways that aren’t possible on dry land.

• Some activities to try in the water to help your back could be to float face down like a jellyfish and gently letting the air out 
• Gliding through the water on the front of your body with a free neck, eyes on the pool floor and sweeping your hands through the water to create an effortless movement, and then regaining your feet, helps to stretch your back in a calm/fluid manner
• Rotating your back gently in the water, allows your back muscles to stretch and improve spine strength
• Swimming on your back can help to soothe the muscles, but if there is too much tension in the back of the neck and your pelvis, you may need to avoid this one.

Doing activities in the water that cause no stress or harm to the muscles and spine will most certainly help out back pain and help to prevent the pain from getting worse over time. Swimming is a full-body workout, that helps to stretch and exercise various muscles that you may miss in daily land training. 

Lots of people recommend swimming to help subdue some of that pain, so give swimming a try to see if it helps to relieve some of that back pain!

Swimming is perfect for physical exercise, working out all of the muscles at once, but it can also be mentally beneficial. It brings a therapeutic state to your mind and helps to bring a positive effect. Swimming is very beneficial for the mind, here is why:

Swimming is an effective way to relieve stress. The regular, repetitive motion of swimming through the water is often relaxing and can help focus the mind on one task. Swimming is a sport that releases endorphins into your brain and can help to bring a positive outlook to life. Being immersed in the water boosts blow flow to the brain, which can have a positive impact on its health. Swimming can lead to at least a 30% improvement in self-worth and satisfaction in life. 

Regular swimming can also help to lower the effectiveness of anxiety and depression. The release of these natural endorphins helps to boost happiness. Swimming is also a great way to help improve memory, focus, and concentration as swimming often takes a lot of focus into your swimming technique. The water can help to relieve the tension of muscles, the floating effect of the water is calming to the mind and helps people to feel happier in themselves.

Swimming has a big community of fellow swimmers who support each other, give each other advice, and help to influence each other. Social interaction with other swimmers to share experiences, tips, and tricks, or simply to enjoy swimming together, can help to boost serotonin and to find some like-minded people to support you. 

There is scientific evidence that suggests that the colour blue/being in blue spaces can improve mental well-being, for example looking up at a blue sky, or looking at the blue sea. It is abundant throughout the natural world and is associated heavily with water. 

In conclusion, swimming is perfect for your physical health, but it can be perfect to help your mental health too. At ProSwimwear, we offer a large range of swimwear, accessories, and equipment to dive into the water with a smile.

Have you heard the news? Adam Peaty, a swimming superstar, has joined Speedo! He is widely regarded as the greatest breaststroke swimmer of all time, and at the most recent Olympic games has won two gold medals (100m breaststroke, 4x100m mixed medley) and one silver (4x100 medley).

Here is what Speedo has said in their press release:

Speedo, the world’s biggest swimwear brand, has today announced a multi-year sponsorship deal with triple Olympic champion and World Record Holder - Adam Peaty OBE.

Widely-regarded as the greatest breaststroke swimmer of all-time, Peaty joins Speedo off the back of winning two gold medals (100m breaststroke, 4x100m mixed medley) and one silver (4x100m medley) at the most recent Olympic Games. An era of dominance means that Peaty now holds 15 of the 20 fastest 100m breast stroke (long course) times in history and has revolutionised the stroke, inspiring people around the world to take up swimming.

Speaking about the new partnership, Peaty revealed that Speedo’s success in the pool, coupled with a passion to use his platform to build a more inclusive and sustainable sport by combining with the world’s largest swimwear brand were the main drivers behind the new deal.

Peaty has recently spoken about his ambition to leave the sport with a time which can never be surpassed. Dubbed ‘Project Immortal’, the eight-time World Champion, will use the next two years sharpening his tools ahead of a bid to cement his legacy within the sport even further. With this deal, he now also has the support of a brand which has helped to win more Olympic medals than any other.

Peaty said: “I’m really excited to be joining Team Speedo alongside so many of the world’s best swimmers who swam so well in Speedo suits last summer. Project Immortal is my next big aim and will be a lot of hard work, but I’m excited about the support Speedo can offer me in this quest for greatness. The figures from Tokyo speak for themselves and I’m certain this partnership will help me reach the next level.”

He joins the likes of Caeleb Dressel, Emma McKeon, Duncan Scott, Tom Dean and Ariarne Titmus, as well as a plethora of British and international stars who form Team Speedo who had a dominant Olympic performance in Tokyo – with the brand being worn by 61% of swimmers who won a Gold medal in the pool, including the only two swimmers to set world records.

As well as the performance credentials, Peaty was also enthused about the role he can play in supporting Speedo’s future activity which centres around becoming more sustainable and helping to increase participation levels in the world of swimming. Speedo recently revealed its Swim United programme, which aims to enable thousands of children in under-represented areas and communities to learn how to swim.

He added: “Since the birth of my son, George, I have become increasingly focused on playing my part in helping to create the best world I can for him. Once I heard the plans Speedo had from a sustainability and diversity perspective, there was never a doubt in my mind that they were the perfect partner for me.

“My background is not that of a traditional swimmer and as a result I am really passionate about finding the next big thing in British swimming. There are so many potential champions out there, we just need to enable them to be in the water and identify that potential and Swim United does that.”

Speaking about the partnership, Simon Rowe, Global Head of Sports Marketing for Speedo, said: “Adam Peaty is one of the greatest swimmers Great Britain has ever produced and we are immensely proud that he has agreed to join Team Speedo. From the moment we met Adam it was clear we had a shared vision for the future of swimming. We’re both committed to making the sport as wide-reaching and sustainable as possible, and so it was the perfect fit for brand and athlete. We are excited about his passion in making swimming a more diverse sport through our Swim United initiative and look forward to sharing further plans in due course”.

In addition to the list of Peaty’s honours, he is also a three-time Commonwealth Games champion and has committed to swimming at Birmingham 2022, having been announced as an automatic qualifier by Team England.

Peaty is fresh from an impressive stint on Strictly Come Dancing which, coupled with his Tokyo exploits, catapulted him into the hearts of the nation and he was awarded an OBE for his services to swimming in the 2022 New Year Honours list. 

To celebrate this fantastic news at Proswimwear, we have 25% off Speedo race suits. Make sure to check it out and to get the best deals in our flash sale! What are you waiting for?

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/flash-sale/speedo-flash-sale.html

Water safety is very important for children to learn from a young age due to the risk of accidents and even drowning. It is one of the only sports you can teach your child that can save their life. 

Drowning is one of the top causes of accidental deaths in children, so being able to swim is an essential skill, not only for your child to exercise and socialise with friends but also so they can survive if they accidentally fall in the water. 

Swimming is fun! It’s a great form of exercise that is fun for all ages, so it is much easier to get a child to learn. Swimming is also an accessible sport for children, regardless of age and ability, and can be a key form of exercise for children with additional needs. It can have the advantage of making your child more self-confident, and to make friends. 

Swimming keeps your child’s heart and lungs healthy. Swimming works out the whole body, helping to improve their strength and flexibility, as well as their posture and stamina. Swimming has many health benefits that work for all different muscle groups and help to promote a healthy life if your child is introduced to swimming at a younger age. This can also help to increase their confidence in the water and be able to keep themselves safe with more knowledge and experience.

Swimming is also a great sport to meet new friends and work on team building, allowing your child to learn new social skills and helping them build a team atmosphere. Swimmers learn to support and help each other from their shared experiences in the pool, often making great friendships for life. A positive atmosphere and team skills are skills that can be carried through life. 

Swimming also helps your child to learn self-motivation and goal setting, to push themselves to learn more skills, and to be more confident in the water. Swimming ties teamwork and individuality into one sport.

Swimming is also a sport you can have for life if you teach your child how to swim from a young age. The skill is forever with them and is something they can take with them as they get older. Since swimming is a low-impact sport, it is a hugely popular and safe option for older adults, unlike other sports which can risk falling, swimming is good for the joints and is great for people of all levels.

At Proswimwear, we have a large variety of swimming costumes for children, ranging from performance swimwear to training swimwear. We also have training aids to help support your child in learning how to swim. Make sure to check them out! 

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/swimming-accessories/swimming-training-aids.html

https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/kids-swimwear.html

Swimming is not always an option for everyone, as not everyone is situated near a swimming pool, or open water so sometimes swimming can be next to impossible to do. 

Try open water swimming! Along with a new experience, you can continue your regular exercise training routine and it can even help to improve mental health. It also allows you to have social interaction with fellow swimmers and allows you to do something active! 

If you swim often, do regular dryland training to keep strengthening your muscles. Try out different arm exercises and bodyweight exercises at home to target your muscle strength and your endurance.

Try cold showers or baths. Many swimmers swear by this, challenging yourself to do something potentially unpleasant involving water and overcoming your reluctance to get cold can give yourself a similar mental boost to a swim. Some swimmers even put ice baths in their showers.

You can also look at content related to swimming! Read books and magazines, listen to podcasts and watch films or documentaries on swimming. Content can help to inspire ideas for your own challenges and adventures once you get back into the water and can help you gain more information in areas you may not have understood properly. Have fun and learn. Make a plan of these challenges you wish to do and it should help spark the motivation once you return to the water.

Lastly, don’t worry too much! If you have to take a break because of work, traveling, or injuries, you can bounce back to swimming! While it can take time to recover your fitness, it will come back. You don’t forget how to swim. You may need to tune up your skills and technique, but they’ll still be there once you get back in the water. Be excited to return to the water! You’re still a swimmer, even if you can’t swim currently, you will be able to return shortly!

In the meantime, you could also take a look at our website for training aids and swimming costumes for when you return to the water  https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/

Swimming is a full-body workout. It requires the use of every muscle, meaning you need to care for and maintain each one. The upper body is important. Even if you have the strongest legs, a weak upper body will slow you down in the water.

Dryland training should be incorporated into your exercise for your swimming. Let’s delve into the different ways you can focus on your upper body strength to see those results in the pool!

Equipment-based exercises

Hopefully, your pool membership also includes access to a gym full of equipment to help train your arms. There are lots of gyms that have a lot of equipment to allow proper arm exercises for swimmers for example cables, free weights, and much more. Let’s take a look at some examples of equipment you can use for dryland exercises and a movement you can perform while using it: 

• Dumbbell curls are probably the first thing you visualise when you think about somebody training their arms, they are versatile and you can pick the weight depending on what it is you want to do. 
• You can also practice preacher curls which are one of the most effective isolation exercises, try three sets where you push yourself to failure and pick a weight where you are failing between 8-10 repetitions. 

Bodyweight exercises

You can build some serious muscle and endurance from just your own body weight. Don’t feel discouraged by the lack of dumbbells, you can still build muscle with bodyweight arm exercises. These exercises can also have a much lower chance of injury.

• Pushups are a classic. They don’t just improve your arm strength, it targets your chest, triceps, biceps, chest, and more! It can also improve core strength, which helps you to minimise your drag in the water. You can also turn pushups into full-body cardio by changing them into burpees. 
• To perform a pushup correctly, put your body into a high planking position and put your palms flat on the ground beneath your shoulders. Let your chest sink towards the ground until your nose touches the ground and then push yourself back up to the original position. Keep your feet close together, but not touching, your toes pointed, and your heels up. Pushups can be done in a variety of styles, such as diamond pushups, elevated pushups, and even one-armed pushups, which can make your workouts more fun and dynamic!
• Dips are one of the most essential arm exercises for swimmers as it helps to target strength building in your triceps. Put your legs at a 90-degree angle, and cross your calves. Lower your body, keep your chest forward to apply balance. Dips can be very hard at first and will make your triceps burn, but this exercise also targets your pecs, anterior deltoids, and even back muscles. 
• Chin-ups are performed by gripping a bar in line with your shoulders above your head, palms facing towards you. You then pull yourself up until your chin rises above the bar and lower yourself back down. Chin-ups also work out your lats and scapula. Chin-ups can be one of the most difficult arm exercises, especially if you are lifting a lot of weight. Resistance bands can help to push your body up. 

Dryland arm exercises for swimmers will make positive changes to your performance in the pool. If you have access to a gym, don’t be shy to try the weight machine! If you cannot access a gym, you can exercise at home with either equipment or simple bodyweight workouts! 

At Proswimwear, we offer a large range of resistance bands and dryland equipment that could help you with your workout.

Dryland Training Aids: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/swimming-accessories/land-training.html
Resistance Training Aids: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/swimming-accessories/swimming-training-aids/resistance-training.html

Swimming is a great form of exercise for many people of all ages and genders. If you already know how to swim it is easy, and not too expensive, and you can go at your own pace but if you do not know how to swim, lessons can be pricey in the very beginning. It not only helps your physical health due to the demanding nature of the sport, but it can also boost your mental health.  

The Physical Benefits

Swimming allows you to work out all of the muscles in your body. It requires all the major muscles to move your arms, legs, core, and brain. It helps to tone your muscles and increase metabolism. Swimming regularly can help to increase these benefits.

It is also the best form of cardiovascular fitness that is low impact, this involves the heart, lungs and is a great way to stay in shape for a lifetime. This helps to train your body to use your oxygen more efficiently. The water also has a resistance that allows you to work out more vigorously with little chance of injury. Swimming for just thirty minutes a week can help protect against heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

In addition, the more you swim the better you sleep. Trials have been conducted with adults who have insomnia and they reported improved sleep for those who exercised regularly. 

All-Inclusive Health Benefits

Swimming is suitable for people of all ages, and fitness levels, it allows you to go at your own page and fitness levels. It is therefore inclusive for people and can allow all generations to get together and exercise, from grandparents to grandchildren. 

It is also a low-impact activity, so if you have a health condition, like arthritis it is a great way to exercise, with the water gently supporting the muscles, with the water’s resistance helping your muscles get stronger. It will improve your muscle endurance which will prevent injury too!

For people with physical disabilities, swimming is a great way to exercise. It can help lift a lot of weight off your limbs and help improve muscle strength. It also helps to improve motor skills and coordination, increases flexibility, and helps to improve mental health.  It can help provide a greater sense of independence and confidence, and swimming is often used for physical therapy sessions.

Swimming exercises are also safe during pregnancy. Pregnancy can often make joints and muscles ache due to the drastic rate at which your body has to change and gain weight to accommodate a child. Swimming is a safe, low-impact exercise that is easy on the joints thanks to the resistance of the water. While pregnant, it is possible to swim pretty much until delivery, but we recommend you consult a doctor before starting any new fitness programs.  

The Mental Benefits

Swimming doesn’t just improve your physical health, it can also improve your mental health. Exercise is proven to help improve sleep regularity and swimming is no different. It can help to reduce insomnia and improve your sleep patterns. Swimming engages your entire body and encourages your body to get a full night's rest to recover all of your muscles.

Swimming also can help manage stress easier. It can redirect your thoughts and let you escape into your own world for a while. There’s a relaxing and meditative side to swimming. It allows your mind to float, only focussing on your breathing and body movements as you push through the water. It can make you happier as swimming releases endorphins. It helps to improve your overall mood. 

The swimming community also is a great way to build social skills and improve your confidence. Having a little support from your friends and family can help your confidence and make you happier.

In conclusion, swimming not only helps to improve your physical health but also your mental health. It is perfect for all ages and all people as a great form of exercise. At Proswimwear, we have a large variety of swimwear, training aids, and wetsuits that can aid your journey in swimming, be sure to check it out here: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/