First aid seminar
In June 2013, Ichtheis Baby Swimming held the second free first aid seminar on drowning for infants and children.
We want to warmly thank the Red Cross and especially Mr. Giorgos Mpairaktaris who shared with us all this useful information. We would also like to thank Egnatia Palace Hotel and St. Luke's Hospital for providing us with the venues and of course all of you, our dear parents, for supporting us with your presence!!!
Thank you and we hope you are all well!!!
Scientific study results on the effect of swimming on the human body
BY OLGA TANTOU, ARTICLE IN NEWSPAPER “EPIKAIRA”
In a few days, on July 23, is the 186th anniversary of the first swimming school in the world, which was founded in Boston USA. In the middle of the summer and just before our prolonged trip to the beach, "Epikaira" discusses with experts and presents the latest scientific studies on the benefits of swimming. Health benefits: "Frequent swimming, as well as other forms of mild exercise (walking, cycling) contributes to the prevention of and rehabilitation after cardiovascular diseases," notes interventional cardiologist and former director of the Cardiology Department of the General Hospital of Athens "G. Gennimatas" Antonios D. Vrachatis. It is worth noting that, based on a research conducted at the University of Texas, swimming benefits elderly people by lowering their blood pressure and improving the function of their blood vessels. Mr Vrachatis stresses that "besides lowering the blood pressure, swimming increases the protective 'good' HDL cholesterol, reduces body weight and insulin resistance and increases the antithrombotic and antiarrhythmic activity as well as the collateral circulation. Thanks to buoyancy and the reduction of body weight, even patients with heart failure can exercise in the water."
In addition, swimming benefits patients with diseases of the spine, such as spondyloarthritis, intervertebral disc herniation, osteoporosis and scoliosis. Rehabilitation physician Evangelos Manavelas points out that "swimming strengthens the muscles of the whole body, as they all exercise simultaneously. Moreover, it increases flexibility ― particularly to patients with spondyloarthritis ― and as it is a mild type of exercise thanks to buoyancy, it protects joints, bones and muscles. Lastly, aerobic exercise in the water reduces stress and sympathetic pain."
Regarding infants, there are numerous scientific studies which have shown that swimming is beneficial for their health. A specific study conducted by the Medicine school of the University of Tasmania in Australia reveals that children who suffer from asthma can enhance their physical condition, as well as their heart and lung function.
During his discussion with "Epikaira", pediatrician Kostas Kommatas noted that "children with bronchial asthma, who often avoid other sports, should be encouraged to do swimming, as it gradually strengthens their respiratory muscles and increases their self-confidence". He added that "it is easy to see why swimming contributes to children's health. First of all, the body becomes lighter inside the water, so the smooth pressure exercises evenly all the joints. It also protects them from accidents, while the constant movement of the body (which becomes more intensive when appropriate) strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory system".
A study of significant interest, which was conducted by the Griffith Institute for Educational Research, reveals the important effects of swimming, not only on health, but also on the cognitive skills of children. When children start swimming at an early age, they tend to develop their cognitive and language skills faster than children of the same age who don't swim. More specifically, it has been proven that swimmers have better performance in oral expression, reading, counting and drawing lines and shapes. "Children who participate in learn-through-play programs (ie baby swimming programs for infants from four months to four years old) become more intelligent, as they perform combination exercises (eg moving the right hand with left leg) that enhance the exchange of information between the two brain hemispheres. Thus, children develop a more intelligent and creative way of thinking," explains the professor of physical education and program manager of Ichtheis Baby Swimming, Nikolas Hatzigiakoumis. He also tells us that "many parents have seen psychological improvement in their children. They are healthier, thus happier. Through swimming they learn how to set goals (for example, perform a specific exercise) fight to achieve them and at the end succeed, something that reinforces significantly their self-esteem and their sense of independence. Also, interacting with other children at such a young age makes them more social."
Swimming and muscle mass
During a study conducted by the Department of Kinesiology at the Indiana University in the USA, scientists compared swimmers with other types of athletes aged from 20 to 88 years old. It was found that swimmers had in all cases a higher percentage of muscle mass.
Did you know that 93% of Greek waters are ideal for swimming? According to the 2013 Annual Report of the European Environment Agency, 93% of bathing sites in Greece meet the minimum water quality standards, exceeding the average of the European Union. Additionally, water quality is excellent at 78% of the sites.
Precautions in order to avoid danger when swimming
Interventional cardiologist and former director of the Cardiology Department at the General Hospital of Athens, Antonios Vrachatis says that "swimming (and training in general) is not a panacea, thus it is necessary to take some precautions so that it does not become dangerous instead of beneficial and pleasant. Simple symptoms, such as dizziness, vomiting or even a cramp while being in the water, can cause drowning. Thus patients with a heart condition, especially those who are under hypotensive or antiarrhythmic medication, should not swim alone or right after eating. When the water is cold, they should enter gradually, as there is a risk of coronary spasm and they should avoid going to isolated beaches that are difficult to access and thus expose themselves to high temperatures during the summer.
It is about 5 months since Mattheos started baby swimming. We follow the classes on Sunday and since then our weekends have become much more fun for all of us! As Sunday is approaching, Mattheos cannot wait to dive in the pool. Baby swimming is an activity that has contributed to the physical and psychological development of our child and has strengthened our bond with him. Even though he also started going to the kinder garden, we noticed that he gets sick less and less often! In addition, swimming has increased his appetite and he now eats more without making feeding difficult for us!
Evie B.
Thank you for the high level of safety, cleanliness and training that you provide! Besides acquiring a unique familiarity with the water, Thodoris has also developed his social skills through his contact with the other children. We continue our baby swimming program with eagerness, confidence and joy!
Dimitra – Tassos (parents of Thodoris Karakostas)
We had been thinking of trying baby swimming since a very long time and when we mentioned it to our pediatrician, child neurologist and physiotherapist (due to the special condition of our little daughter), they were all more than positive!
Of course, lessons turned out to be as good as we thought they would and we immediately knew we made the right choice. Our little one was thrilled! Her participation, responsiveness and cooperation with Nicolas were every time more and more impressive. The combination of physiotherapy and baby swimming strengthened her body and posture. It is after all well known that swimming is the best exercise.
The always smiling and helpful Christina and the warm environment they have created, shows how much they love what they are doing. It is no coincidence that in such a short time they accomplished so much!
As two parents that always look for the best for their child, we definitely recommend you to enroll in the baby swimming lessons.
Katerina M.
We recommend this baby swimming program because it strengthens children's immune system and allows them to spend time with their parents in a creative way. It also contributes to their socialization and teaches them how to function in small groups and follow the rules.
Our daughter started when she was 6 months and now that she is almost 2 years old, she feels very comfortable in the water and looks forward to every class. Thanks to the methodical approach of our coach Nicolas, swimming and playing have become one!
Konstantina's parents
I had some general information about baby swimming from friends in Athens and various magazines. When my little boy was four months old, I started eagerly looking for swimming programs that would be suitable for his first contact with the water. Unfortunately, I realized that Thessaloniki was not as advanced as Athens. There were only two baby swimming programs, but one was too far away and the other one, to which I ended up as I didn't have any other option, classes were taking place in the premises of a very big local sports team.
Fortunately, however, on a sunny day in September 2011, a smiling girl offered me a flyer asking me if I had heard about baby swimming. She informed me about Ichtheis, a new program with a vision, the facilities of which were in a central hotel of the city. She told me that I could visit their premises and get to know them better. Being really curious, I went to visit them immediately, as it was in the very center of Thessaloniki, in Egnatia Palace Hotel!
My surprise was really big! The smiling members of Ichtheis made me feel very happy and welcomed. The atmosphere in the pool area was very calming, as the lessons were accompanied by relaxing music that soothes the children. Courses are always conducted in small groups of 4, something very important both for the children and the parents who participate in it. There is always a changing table and a locker available, while toilets, showers and dressing rooms are extremely clean. As for the forgetful mothers, there are always caps, flip flops and all the essentials for the hygiene of the baby. Our coach, Nicolas, is very gifted and our little ones adore him. Most importantly, he is very qualified and he always has new ideas, zest and zeal for his work!
As for the benefits of baby swimming, I don't know where to start! The fact that it has increased the mobility of our son is the least I can say! It has also improved the quality of his sleep and boosted his immune system, so we now see our beloved pediatrician less often. For all these reasons, I decided without hesitation to also send my 5-month old daughter to Ichtheis and share this experience with you!
Giorgos & Eleni
One sunny day in September 2011, a smiling girl offered me a brochure, politely asking, "Have you heard of baby swimming?"
George and Eleni | 06/03/13
Swimming: What studies show about its effect on the human body
BY OLGA TANTOU, REPORTING IN THE NEWS
In a few days, specifically on July 23, it will be one hundred and eighty-six years since the first swimming school opened in Boston, USA. In the midst of summer and just before the long and extended trip to the beaches, “Epikaira” talks to experts and presents modern scientific studies regarding the beneficial effects of swimming on humans. Health benefits “Frequent swimming, like other forms of mild exercise (walking, cycling), has favorable effects on the prevention and recovery of cardiovascular diseases,” notes in “Epikaira” the interventional cardiologist and former director of the Cardiology Clinic at the “G. Gennimatas” Athens General Hospital, Mr. Antonios D. Vrachatis. It is worth noting that, based on research conducted by the University of Texas, swimming lowers blood pressure in the elderly, since it benefits the functioning of blood vessels. Mr. Vrachatis emphasizes that “the actions to which the benefit of swimming is attributed concern the reduction of blood pressure, the increase of protective, “good” HDL cholesterol, the reduction of body weight and “resistance” to insulin, as well as the increase of antiarrhythmic and antithrombotic activity, as well as collateral circulation. Due to the reduction of body weight in the water, exercise is facilitated in case of heart failure.”
At the same time, the benefits that swimming brings to spinal diseases, such as spondylitis, intervertebral disc herniations, osteoporosis and scoliosis, are very significant. As the
Physiatrist and rehabilitation specialist Mr. Evangelos Manavelas, "swimming strengthens the muscles, because the muscles of the whole body are coordinated at the same time. In addition, it helps muscle flexibility, especially in people with spondylitis, while
As a gentle exercise, it works protectively for the joints, bones and muscles, due to the buoyancy of the seawater. Finally, aerobic exercise reduces stress and sympathetic pain. "From babies to swimming pools Numerous scientific studies have shown that
shows the beneficial effects that swimming has on children's physical health. In fact, a study by the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania in Australia reveals that especially in children suffering from asthma,
Swimming enhances their physical condition, as well as the function of the heart and lungs.
Speaking to "Epikaiara", the pediatrician Dr. Kostas Kommatas points out that "children with bronchial asthma, who often avoid other sports, they shouldthey dare to deal with thebathing, since it gradually strengthens them
"it strengthens their respiratory muscles, while also boosting their self-confidence" and adds that "it is easy to understand the usefulness of swimming for a child's health. First of all, the body in the water becomes significantly lighter, so
"The smooth, generalized pressure exercises all joints evenly. At the same time, it protects against the significant risk of accidents, while the generalized movement, with frequent peaks of force – whenever necessary – leads the child's cardiovascular and respiratory systems to gradual overdevelopment." Also of significant interest is research conducted by Griffith
Institute for Educational Research, which reveals the significant effects of swimming not only on health, but also on the development of cognitive skills of young participants. In particular, children who start swimming at
At a young age, children who swim tend to develop their cognitive and language skills faster and to a greater extent than their peers who do not swim. Specifically, it was found that they have better performance in oral expression, reading, counting, as well as in creating shapes and lines. "Children who participate in water skills learning programs in the form of a game (infant swimming program for infants from four months to four years old) become smarter, since they do combination exercises (e.g., right hand with left foot), which create more synapses between the two hemispheres of the brain. Thus, children develop a more intelligent and creative way of thinking," explains Physical Education teacher and head of the "FISH" infant swimming program, Mr. Nikolaos Hatzigiakoumis. Furthermore, he tells us from his experience that "many parents tell us that their children's psychology also improves significantly. They are healthier and therefore happier. Finally, through swimming, they enter the process of setting goals early on – for example, to complete a specific exercise –, fighting for them and ultimately achieving them, which significantly increases their self-confidence, self-esteem and independence, while by socializing and interacting with other children their age from an early age, they become more social."
Swimming and muscle mass
In a study conducted by the Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University in the USA,
A comparison of athletes aged twenty to eighty-eight who were involved in swimming with their peers who had not engaged in the sport. It was found that the swimmers had in all cases a higher percentage of muscle mass.
Did you know that… the 93% of Greek waters is excellent for swimming?
According to the European Environment Agency's annual report for 2013, 931% of bathing areas in our country meet the minimum water quality standards, a percentage that exceeds the European Union average.
Additionally, water quality is excellent in 78% of the country's regions.
Precautions to avoid becoming dangerous
Antonios D. Vrachatis, Interventional Cardiologist, former Director of the "G. Gennimatas" Cardiology Clinic
"Swimming (and exercise) is not a panacea, and precautions are necessary to prevent it from becoming a beneficial and enjoyable experience that can be dangerous. Simple symptoms, such as dizziness, vomiting or even a cramp, in the water can result in drowning. Thus, a heart patient, especially if he is taking hypotensive or antiarrhythmic medications, should never swim alone or with food at great depth, in the "swimsuits", or go diving. He should enter cold waters gradually - there is a risk of coronary spasm -, while he should also avoid the inconvenience of difficult access to the beach, as well as the ordeal of exposure to very high temperatures."
You can download the original article from here: baby swimming
We recommend the baby swimming program because it strengthens the child's immune system and is an opportunity for creative parent-child contact.
Konstantina's parents
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