Summer is a time to relax and have fun, so your workout should feel that way too. Instead of going for your usual run around the neighborhood or hitting the gym, head to your local pool instead. Those who are not involved on a competitive swim team may view it as a leisure activity, but it can be both relaxing as well as healthy for your body.

Although you may not realize it, swimming works nearly every muscle in your body. In addition to building muscle, swimming increases endurance and cardiovascular fitness and improves posture and flexibility as well.

“I do swim team in the winter and summer to stay in shape,” senior Emily Krause said.

For those skeptical about the level of exercise swimming provides, consider this: according to lifescript.com, swimmers can burn as many calories in an hour as someone who runs six miles in one hour.

“I didn’t realize how hard of a workout swimming could be until I started doing it competitively,” senior Alec Vilafania said.

Swimming is also beneficial to those whose bodies are constantly under physical stress. Water relaxes the muscles and gives the body a break from impact training, like running. For this reason, swimming is also helpful to those with injuries.

“I hurt my knee last year and swimming let me exercise and keep pressure off of my injured leg,” senior Kenzi Wright said.

No matter what your state of health is, swimming is a great way to cool off and get in some exercise in the heat of the summer season.