Sipping hot chocolate by a warm fire may be the first winter activity that comes to mind, but swimming in Asphalt Green’s indoor pools could be a new list-topping activity.

You may have heard that swimming during the winter is unhealthy, but that's a myth. Swimming is a year-round sport. Here's why you or your family should make a splash, even during cold-weather months:

Swim lessons help fight the winter blues.

Below-freezing temperatures don’t exactly make for a fun time outdoors, and you're probably spending more time on the couch. If you’ve noticed a change in your mood, it could be attributed to seasonal affective disorder.

While this condition has been commonly known to affect adults, the National Institute of Mental Health revealed that up to 5.5 percent of children ages 9 to 19 may also have seasonal affective disorder. Swim lessons can increase the amount of serotonin in your and your child’s brains, improving mood and combating seasonal blues.

Swim lessons can actually improve your ability to fight infection.

This one may come as a surprise: You will not get sick from being cold and wet after swim lessons. Colds are caused by viruses; the temperature in or outside of the pool is not related to your risk of being exposed to germs. While wet hair might feel a little chilly when walking outside, it’s nothing to worry about, especially if you pack a beanie and a warm coat.

The exercise you get from swimming may boost your immune system, making it more prepared to ward off bacterial and viral infections. Here's what happens when you exercise:

  • Physical activity may help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways. This may reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu, or other illness.
  • Swimming for exercise causes changes in antibodies and white blood cells. White blood cells are the body’s immune system cells that fight disease. Exercise encourages antibodies to circulate more rapidly, enabling your immune system to detect illnesses earlier than it might have before.
  • Exercise slows down the release of stress hormones. Some stress increases the chance of illness. Lower stress hormones may protect against illness.

 

Ready to make a splash? Sign up for winter swim lessons at our Upper East Side or Battery Park City campuses!