Swimming is a popular form of exercise and pools have been around for a while evolving into different styles to meet the growing demand for pools today.
Swimming is a popular recreational activity in the United States and other countries in the world, however no two pools look exactly alike and many differ in size, shape, and depth and construction. While the average pool is constructed out of concrete, many are also made from metal, fiberglass and even plastic.
However, regardless of the material used for construction, many pools have tiles affixed to the sides in stylish patters or covering the pools floor to prevent cuts and scrapes along the feet of swimming patrons.
Even the stature differs from pool to pool and many are above ground or in the ground, the latter is usually heated for year round use. Since heated pools are becoming increasingly popular, many people have chosen swimming as their primary source of exercise.
The use of swimming pools appears to have started in ancient Egypt and worked its way to Rome, where it was taught in schools for boys and young men as an essential course. The Romans thought very highly of this activity as a pass time and soon divided the swimming pool from the bathing house so that it could be enjoyed separately.
After this initial spark of popularity, swimming pools became practically obsolete until the early eighteen hundreds when several were built in England to serve as forms of entertainment as well as exercise and many had diving boards. This appears to be the first time Western culture accepted and popularized this form of entertainment.
Swimming proved to become a popular pass time and eventually swimming pools became a large part of the Olympic Games where swimming races were one of the main and original events. Since then, pools have evolved into many different forms and designed for many different uses, such as the 'private pool' which is to be used only the patrons who are affiliated private resorts, hotels and upscale apartments.
Others, like the 'public pool' are open to the general public and can be used by anyone. Still, there are many more types of pools such as the 'infinity pool', which has a jet system on only one side where water is continually pushed through to give the swimmer the impression that they are swimming in a larger pool and going a longer distance. This type of pool is usually intended for those who have space considerations, as it is quite small, or for those who use swimming as a major form of exercise or recreational entertainment.
Another popular and useful swimming pool is the 'zero-entry' pool-this pool does not have steps or ladders like other pools do, instead it has a gradual slope so that the user feels they are walking down a gradual hill. Young children, seniors and people with disabilities favor this pool since there is little chance that they will slip or in cases when gradual entry is essential to the user. Regardless of the type of pool you choose to use, swimming is an excellent choice for low impact exercising.
Article Tags:
Swimming Pools
