THE MANY BENEFITS OF SWIMMING

Improve your cardiovascular health

Swimming can play an important role in maintaining a healthy heart with Lifeguard certificate. It will increase your heart rate at the same time as the large muscle groups in your body come to work. It is important to note that your heart rate may be slower in water than it is on land. If you have concerns, consult your doctor before starting an exercise program.

Minimize intense exercise and injuries

Swimming is an all-time accessible form of exercise for people suffering from joint problems or individuals who need a low-intensity exercise. There is less pressure on your joints due to the reduced force of gravity. Many people who may not be able to participate in other types of exercise due to injuries or limited mobility may find that swimming is the perfect solution for them.

Build muscle

Water creates a natural resistance as you move your body through the water by pushing or pulling with your arms and legs. Building muscle is essential for strength and balance. If swimming is just not for you, doing basic exercise such as water aerobics or just walking or running in water can be very effective in strengthening the muscles.

Freedom from men who glare

 Who was a lifeguard in one of the two associations we had selected, explained how women's swimming was about more than just following a religious requirement – ??among other things by contrasting women's swimming with fitness in a gender-mixed environment:

"I would say for Muslim women, it is probably primarily due to religion. Because they don't want to, they ca n't swim among men [...] But if you remove the religious aspect, it's also about many women that it's nice to be able to swim [...] without there being some men who staring at one.'

Although the participants emphasized that women's swimming was something that they did for themselves, we also observed that a community had developed among the women.

The swimming pool and the community outside

Despite the fact that most participants were Muslims with a different ethnic background than , the interviewees emphasized that ethnicity played no role in this space. Everyone was welcome regardless of their ethnic background.

Some even thought it was a pity that more ethnically  women did not participate in women's swimming.

But the women expressed that there is a world of difference between the swimming pool and society outside.

An intervention in self-determination

Furthermore, the interviewees were disappointed by the large and negative media coverage of Islam, which was often based on generalizations and stereotypes about Muslims.

Likewise, the women could not understand why a health-promoting activity such as women's swimming should be politically regulated.

They experienced it as an intervention in their self-determination that limited their freedom of religion and expression.

The interviewees' statements indicate that the current politicization of the Muslim female body affects these women's everyday lives, including their opportunities to move around in public spaces and engage in physical activity.

What can we learn from women's swimming?

Our ethnographically inspired studies of women's swimming in Hussar associations indicate that the women's experiences inside and outside the swimming pool are closely connected.

They also point out that public and political discussions around ethnic and religious minorities affect - in this case - Muslim women's opportunities with Universal certificate for and experiences with sports and physical activity.