Advantages: A GREAT WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH, BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE AND MAKE YOU SMILE
Disadvantages: CAN BE A WEE BIT CHILLY IN THE WINTER ... BRRRRR!!!!

...pools, as well as private gyms. I have been a member of a private gym (Greens, Newcastle) and loved the facilities there, but now just go to my local pool, which whilst not being quite so posh, has everything I need, namely lockers, showers and a great big lovely pool! Newcastle is lucky enough to have loads of swimming pools, I know of about 5, and I know there are more that I haven't been to. Making time for some exercise can be quite hard if you have a family or are very busy, so pick a swimming pool that is close to you, and that doesn't take ages to get too, that way you have more time in the pool, and don't need to feel guilty or frustrated over how long it takes you to get to each time. ******************************************** *****Swimming Gear***** I take my swimming costume, a couple of towels (one or my hair... Read review

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Advantages: Teach a child a life saving skill lots of fun and respect for the water.
Disadvantages: You can NEVER be safe around water.

...adopted some very bad habits as I taught myself to swim at 11 years of age. My brother also took his children to swimming lessons simply because he cant swim. In fact he even has a fear of water, which is weird because he is a commercial fisherman. Sometimes its better that someone else teaches them to swim as some children tend to listen more to teachers rather than there parents. If you do decide to go for Ducklings or you want to teach your own child make sure you do the following. The teachers and yourself know C.P.R and first aid. Never let a child into the pool unsupervised or alone Always insist on wearing swimming aids if necessary A swimming costume must be worn for hygienic reasons Never swim less then an hour after a meal or on an empty stomach as it causes cramps Pool must be clean and hygienic Although... Read review

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Advantages: Encourages your little one to want to swim
Disadvantages: Needs batteries

...of a pain and took us about five minutes of battling to get her out. What is contained within the package? One 32cm long doll with a pink swimming costume on, a pair of sandals and a towel. Be warned though the towel is smaller than in the picture, about half the size and you can not wrap it round the doll totally which does annoy my little girl as she want to wrap the doll like how she is wrapped in a towel. With the towel shown above this would be possible though. There is also a instruction booklet which is an universal one so you just have to turn to the English page and a booklet with all the latest Zapf products. Be warned keep this away from your little one as you might find yourself looking out for another item for your child's doll that they insist they need for it. Like most toys now adays it requires batteries and like usual... Read review

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Advantages: Great way to keep fit. Great fun
Disadvantages: Early starts for training, Alot of hard Work

...I spent a lot of my time swimming either training or competing. I have been training since I was about 8 or 9 and I am still doing it today which means I have been training for about 5 or 6 years. Throughout this time I have achieved so much and have had so much fun. I love the sport even though many of my friends make fun of me because of the swimwear which can be uncomfortable at times and shows a lot of skin and is always tight. TRAINING As I just said I have been training for about 5 or 6 years but before that I did swimming lessons and so on. I train at Bo'ness Swimming club and have trained there since the very beginning. I train three times a week on Monday nights from 7 until 9, on Thursday nights from 6 until 9 and on Fridays nights from 5.30 until 7. This adds up to 6 ½ hours of training which isn't that much and some... Read review

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Advantages: Its Fun
Disadvantages: none

...I started swimming when I was 4 months. Ever since then I have been swimming at least once a week, recently more like 3 or 4 times a week. This Saturday I have my first proper regional race, and next year I hope to get through to the county championships. ***Why is it important to learn to swim?*** It is important to learn to swim because if you fell in a river how would you get out before you drown? Just hope there aren't any sharks or crocodiles in there. You might be able to save someone else who can't swim. It keeps you fit and healthy Its great fun! ***How do you get started?*** First, check out your local swimming pool, they usually do everything from parent and toddler classes to Masters swimming clubs. The swimming classes start by getting kids confident in the water, like going underwater... Read review

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Advantages: Olympic size
Disadvantages: In a university

...Swimming the new football, not neccessarily as accuarate as i hope, but you never know. Swimming is suffering from what athletics was in the past. People have cottoned on to the fact that its just a buch of people swimming up and down a swimming pool. But for those of us that are into much more seriously than that, forget about the boredom for viewers and concentrate on going to the top of our chosen sport. Bath University's swimming pool is one of only five olympic swimming pools in the country. and is without a doubt the second best (behind Sheffield) if not the best. We are still a few years behind the likes of USA and Australia, but if we get more and more swimming pools like this one then we can safely say that the sport of swimming has a very good future. Now where are those Speedos?!?... Read review

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Advantages: Fun, you wont drown if you fall in water, good for disabled and relaxing
Disadvantages: cold and wet, knotted hair

..., many have women only sessions for ladies that do not wish to be seen in swimming costumes (something I disagree with because if men had a men only session thousands of women would call this sexist and sulk and campaign) our pool even has a fat people session (not sure if it is called that) but this allows swimming you are normally ashamed to come out to be alone with each other to do exercise in private. Swimming is a cheap hobby and in most cases time allowed in the pool is unlimited… Most pools charge about £1.50 for a session, but check out offers like frequent swimmers, I have a gym card that allows free swimming whenever I want. So all you need really is a costume then, these cost about £10 upwards obviously more for designer but then you are set to go…a towel would also be useful though! Straying off swimming a bit... Read review

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Advantages: something new
Disadvantages: can be seen only on the film festivals

..."Swimming Pool", film seen first time at Cannes Film Festival 2003, sees France and Europe on most decadent, daring and inventive way. Francois Ozon writer and film director strikes again with this time British actress, Charlotte Rampling. Sarah Morton (Rampling) is a famous British mystery author. Tired of London, seeking inspiration for her new novel, she accepts an offer from her publisher John Bosload (Charles Dance) to stay at his home in middle of nowhere in France. It is early off-season, so Sarah hopes to find the beautiful country inspiring – until late one night, when John’s wild French daughter Julie (Sagnier) unexpectedly arrives. Sarah is at first, more than English-alike reserve, finding Julie reckless and sexually charged lifestyle repulsive. Their interactions set off an increasingly unsettling series... Read review

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Advantages: Great stamina builder, good physiotherapy for many kinds of injuries.
Disadvantages: asthma sufferer may need their inhailers with them during training.

...Alot of things have to be said about swimming so i will star with the basics. There are four different authintic swimming styles which are freestyle ( that is frontcrawl ), back stroke, breast stroke and butterfly. Genrally these all work different muscles thoughout your body. However, I am only set to describe the advantages of each stroke due to my experience as a swimmer. First of I will start with butterfly. As many of you know it consists of simultanious arm pull and dolphin kick. This stroke is an excellent way to improve your stamina and builds your shoulders up quite well too. However, even I can only manage about 100 meters at a time as it is tiring on your arms and back. Generally it will build up your stamina so you are able to do more in future. Breast Stroke is my least favourite of the lot. It works certain muscles... Read review

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Advantages: Fitness, suit any ages and just great fun
Disadvantages: Be careful or you could drown

...I would tell anyone to go swimming because its not only fun for yourself but you also gain excercise from it. It doesnt cost much you can spend ages there, and you get to look at some incredible bodies. I go swimming once a week and am thinking of taking up more lessons, I enjoy back stroke the most and am now starting to do breast and butterfly strokes. It is a sport suitable for any ages, and any fitness. You also get flumes which you can fly down at great speed but always be careful there are no children under the flume when reaching the water. So dont just sit there get down to youre nearest swimming pool, and play, relax and just enjoy yourself.... Read review

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