Consequently, we should not simply 'zone out' during a workout rather, we can think, meditate, or pray with the expectation of positive outcomes. Our ability to think is a prized human capability. Author David Thomas, in his book Swimming: Steps to Success quotes William Wilson who in 1883 wrote, 'The experienced swimmer, when in the water, may be classed among the happiest of mortals in the happiest of moods, and in the most complete enjoyment of the happiest of exercises.' It would be fair to ask whether it is actually the physical act of swimming or the mental atmosphere that it creates - that quiet cocoon under the water which allows time for deep thinking or prayer - that produces this kind of happiness and sense of wellbeing. The idea that swimming is good for you mentally as well as physically is really old news. Author Lynn Sherr elevates swimming to a spiritual experience when she says, ' also an inward journey, a time of quiet contemplation.I find myself at peace, able - and eager - to flex my mind, imagine new possibilities, to work things out.' I enjoy the discipline of overcoming limitations, both physical and mental, while swimming laps or even doing an open water swim. Ever since childhood, I have been drawn to the water like a moth to a flame. Swimming provides me with a restorative and liberating feeling.

Olympians, M.D.s, fitness trainers and avid swimmers confirm that swimming is not only good for your body, but can also improve emotional and spiritual wellbeing as you stroke through the water. With Swim, you can avoid that happening to you.Go ahead, take the plunge and swim your way to health and overall well-being. Swimming enthusiast Lynn Sherr explores every aspect of the sport, from the biology of swimming to the fame of Esther Williams from turquoise pools and wild water to the training of Olympians and she reveals the secret of buoyancy so that anyone can avoid the example of the English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who lamented, “Why can’t I swim, it seems so very easy?” When his friend, the biographer Edward John Trelawny, said, “because you think you can’t,” Shelley plunged into Italy’s Arno River and dropped like a rock. You’ll even find a few songs to sing when you push out those next laps. It’s about our relationship with the water, with our fishy forebearers, and with the costumes that we wear. It’s a look at how swimming has changed over the millennia, how this ancient activity is becoming more social than solitary today.

It’s an inquiry into why we swim - the lure, the hold, the timeless magic of being in the water. Swim is a celebration of swimming and the effect it has on our lives.

Lynn sherr swim