health benefits

I am NOT the Walrus
During the chill of winter, when most pools are closed and covered, and many natural bodies of water iced over, some intrepid souls brave the cold and take the plunge anyway. It's a form of discomfort, they say, that comes with significant benefits not found in warmer temps.
Fighting Dementia
As our population ages, concerns about preventing dementia are becoming more and more pronounced. Getting involved with water is one of the possibilities a group of researchers has identified as a way to push back the tide of this debilitating cluster of impairments and conditions.
A Day to Swim
Is it an idea whose time has come? On June 8, I received an email from my friend Dave Penton announcing that he was setting up Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts for something called International Swim Day. "The first day of summer this year is
NSPF’s Dr. Tom Lachocki
An Interview by Lenny Giteck In the six years since Dr. Tom Lachocki became CEO of the National Swimming Pool Foundation, NSPF has given more than $3.5 million in grant money for scientific research into aquatics, a figure that represents
Breathing in Water
I’m sure many of you have noticed by now that we’ve been devoting some of WaterShapes’ pages to articles that in one way or another shine a light on the health benefits of swimming and other forms of aquatic activity.  We’ve done so in the firm belief that the information is important and needs to be
Swimming to Wellness
Most people know that swimming is a great form of exercise, but far fewer seem aware that getting in the water can mean the difference between a life of disability and one of well being for those who live with chronic injuries and illnesses.  In this special feature, Barbara Goldstein describes how a daily swimming regimen has enabled her to stay fit and able in mind, body and spirit while keeping symptoms of three serious medical conditions at bay.   When I was a child, I read a biography of Theodore Roosevelt and discovered that we had asthma in common.  In my case, doctors treated the condition with medications, but Roosevelt had lived in a time long before the era of modern medicine, and I was interested to learn that he kept his condition under control by swimming regularly.  About the time I turned 40, we had a pool installed at our home.  Even with
Healing Waters
In our business, when we talk about people with disabilities, we always put people first:  We speak of "people with brain injuries," for instance, or "people with arthritis" or "people with spinal injuries."  That's an important distinction, because the language informs the entire mindset needed to help them improve their situations in the most effective ways.   For starters, this "people-first" approach helps us avoid misleading generalizations:  Often, we find that two people with nominally similar conditions or disabilities will have significantly different needs and that the methods used to treat each may prove to be significantly different as well.  Everything we do at the Brown Center, in other words, must be based on the individual's own
Healing Waters
In our business, when we talk about people with disabilities, we always put people first:  We speak of "people with brain injuries," for instance, or "people with arthritis" or "people with spinal injuries."  That's an important distinction, because the language informs the entire mindset needed to help them improve their situations in the most effective ways.   For starters, this "people-first" approach helps us avoid misleading generalizations:  Often, we find that two people with nominally similar conditions or disabilities will have significantly different needs and that the methods used to treat each may prove to be significantly different as well.  Everything we do at the Brown Center, in other words, must be based on the individual's own
Healthy Pursuits
When you talk to clients about why they want a swimming pool or spa, which benefits generally top their lists?  Are they after beauty, luxury or a relaxing lifestyle accessory?  Or is it the sound of moving water, a focus on entertaining or a place to play?     Through the years, I've spoken with lots of you about how important it is to understand precisely what