Most people already know that swimming is a great way to exercise. And I'm pretty sure that most people would agree that it's also fun. So why don't more people do it? Well for starters, not everyone has the finances or the space to put a pool in their back yard. However with a lap pool, both space and money become less of an issue.

Lap pools can be either short, about 5 or 6 feet where you swim against massaging jets of water, or full length. And no matter which one you want, you'll get a workout that is almost perfect every time you use it.

The first way you'll start to get healthy is through the cardiovascular workout. Your heart rate will increase, much like it would if you were running down the street, on a treadmill, or on a track. You'll be burning calories and increasing your endurance at the same time. So it's great for heart health and weight control as well.

But swimming has one huge advantages over running. Because it is low impact, you will not have the aching knees, feet, joints and back that many people feel after a lengthy run. There's no constant pounding, yet you still get all the fitness benefits that running can provide.

Taking it one step further, you'll also get some of the benefits of lifting weights. Weight lifting is resistance training, and water also gives you resistance. The end result is you also build strength and muscle tone. Olympic athletes know this, and have added swimming to their workout regimes. But even though you're not an Olympian, you can certainly enjoy the same health benefits.

I won't kid you into thinking that a lap pool is inexpensive, but it certainly will cost less than putting a huge traditional pool in your back yard. It will also take up less room. And if you go with one of the small models where you swim against a stream of jets, you can probably find room in your home. An indoor pool means you won't have to worry if it's cold or raining, you can still get your exercise every day.

If you go with a full length in ground lap pool, it can look very nice in your yard and even provide a space for entertaining. On the other hand, most above ground models are portable. If you move, you can take it with you. And both are much easier to clean and maintain, and they cost less to run than the traditional larger pool.

Put it all together and you have an almost perfect exercise machine. A lap pool gives you a low impact, cardiovascular workout with a reduced risk of injury. You get resistance training without spending money for cumbersome free weights. And it is low maintenance, reasonably priced, looks great, and won't take up a lot of space. And best of all it's fun. What more do you need from your exercise equipment?

To find out more about the incredible fitness benefits of a lap pool go to LapPoolInformation.com. You'll also find facts on the different types of pools available, including the in ground and above ground lap pool.