Photo: Stephen Styris
Siddhartha Sarma:
There was a time, before the city skyline changed and so did our lifestyles, when diving into a clear pond or lake at a moment?s notice was a fun thing to do. That was then. Today you need to range far and wide to find such a water body anywhere around the city. What you have, instead, are swimming pools and this is just the right season to take up the sport for your whole family. There are nothing but benefits, if you do your homework and are ready to go the whole distance.
There are different categories of such pools in the city. The B P Chaliha Swimming Pool at the Nehru Stadium has for long been a mainstay both for serious and recreational swimmers. However, it saw a trough recently with toxic cyanobacteria being discovered. It has since been cleaned and spruced up and is open to both members and the public. For the latter, a plunge, literally, costs Rs100 an hour. Dighalipukhuri, which saw swimming classes periodically in the times past, is out of the picture.
Photo: Stephen Styris
The best facilities in the city are undoubtedly at the aquatic complex at Sarusajai Stadium, with an Olympic size pool and many visitors. However, Sarusajai?s distance from the city means working people can only go on weekends, although these days school students are more in number during weekdays too.
?Both B P Chaliha and Sarusajai are open to the public for recreational swimming, besides for athletes undergoing more rigourous training. The pools and surrounding facilities are maintained properly in a hygienic manner,? says S S Roy, officer on special duty with the sports department. For those wanting to take up swimming on a less regular basis, these government facilities are available at Rs100 per hour.
The second type of swimming facility available in Guwahati is the several hotels and resorts downtown and in the outlying areas, most of which are available for guests as well as visitors.
Photo: Stephen Styris
?The rates are Rs100 per hour. If someone wants a membership for regular visits, it is Rs1,500 per month. The pool is open for children from 3 pm to 6 pm, for ladies from 5 pm to 7 pm and for gents from 7 pm to 9 pm,? says Binod Chandra Das, incharge of swimming facilities at Hotel Grand Starline on G S Road.
However, barring some of the larger resorts, most hotel swimming pools, owing to space constraints, are smaller than regulation size and can only accommodate a few swimmers at a time. Bigger private pools like Dolphin near Zoo Road are also open for regular visitors at nominal rates.
The third kind are swimming facilities at schools, which are of regulation size. However, barring a few like Don Bosco High School, school facilities are not available for non-students or other children or adults. ?For our students who are undergoing swimming training, we have made arrangements for proper guidance and care, as well as safety measures. The pool is kept clean, treated and drained regularly,? says an official with the Delhi Public School, Guwahati.
Although several options are available in the city, the matter of hygiene is important, as untreated water or bacterial formations can cause several reactions and diseases. The cyanobacteria manifestation mentioned earlier, for instance, can lead to skin and gastrointestinal problems. Therefore if you want to take to swimming, either as a recreation or for serious healthy living, you will need to check the pool facilities, whether they are treated with chlorine in the exact amount and whether the water is drained regularly so bacteria does not form, since the climate of the region makes still water prone to various bacteria. ?The pool is closed once a week, on Thursday, when the water is drained and fresh treated water pumped in. We take care that the facilities are hygienic,? says Das. Stadium officials also state that, particularly because of the large number of members using facilities, care is taken so that the water does not cause problems to swimmers.
Once you have decided which swimming pool to frequent, you must also accessorise properly, with goggles, cap and proper, comfortable and rash-resistant swimwear. Professional swimmers will immediately remark on the importance of accessories. ?Whether one is a new swimmer or intends to spend several hours a day in the pool, one must get the right accessories and not compromise on quality. It is your body at stake,? says champion swimmer and trainer Elvis Ali Hazarika.
Professionals also advise supplementing your diet with healthy food and hydrating your system frequently. Moreover, both before and after swimming, you need to take care of your body with a proper hygiene regimen, including bathing in warm water to reduce skin tanning, as mentioned in the accompanying story. ?Everything needs to be checked, from the quality of water to what skincare product and soap you are using, to prevent dermatological reactions, particularly in this climate,? saysskin specialist Pankaj Adhikari. ?The water may even cause internal problems if it is not of the right quality.? Once you have everything in place, go ahead and take the plunge, literally. This is one of the best exercises for your body, and whether you want to be the next Michael Phelps or just want to cool off and work out in the water, you can be assured it will be time spent well.
Swimming accessories
It is not just about leaping into the water. You need to be kitted out in reliable accessories to prevent skin, hair or eye problems and to be comfortable. The rule is not just to go by brands, because there are fake ones in the market as well. Here is what to look out for.
Goggles
In case of any problem with the quality of water, your eyes will be the first to feel it. Therefore a reliable pair of plastic swimming goggles is a must. Do not compromise on quality, choose one which is airtight and will not leak inside when you are under water. There are many brands available, but there is a risk of some of them being fakes. Check the straps and quality of rubber or other material around the eyepieces thoroughly. Goggles come at a wide budget range. Cosco, a known sportswear brand, for instance, begins at Rs330 plus. Anything lower is probably a fake. Tribord also has different ranges, from Rs175 to Rs300. If you want to go really high up and ensure quality, try Arena?s goggles. The Arena Cobra, a pair of mirror goggles, comes at Rs2,400. Arena?s Venture and Tracks are also meant for serious pros but you can be assured of quality performance.
Cap
One item children seem to remember more than adults, although swimming instructors recommend this for everyone. It is not just for helping you swim faster. A cap helps protect your hair from reactions to chemicals in treated water. It is a must regardless of how much time per day you spend in the pool. Cosco, Tribord, Nabaji and some other brands come for around Rs100-Rs150. These days you also get caps made of coated mesh to hold in your hair more snugly and comfortably. A coated mesh cap from a known brand is for not less than Rs270-Rs280.
Swimwear
The most important accessory, it needs to be chosen based on several criteria. The first is functionality. Your costume should be comfortable both in and out of the pool. It might look good on you, but if the material or design ends up leaving rashes on your skin or chafe marks, it does not help. For children, a reliable brand at reasonable prices begins from Rs400-Rs600. For women, a Tribord one-piece comes at around Rs1,800, while men?s wear can range from Rs700 to Rs1,500 or higher. If you are willing to splurge, though, you can opt for some serious swimwear, like the Arena Powerskin XP Jammer, a
speedo lookalike for men but more comfortable, at about Rs6,800. Another Arena Powerskin, also shorts for men, comes for Rs9,800, while the Powerskin equivalent for women comes for Rs6,000. But with a Powerskin, as they say, you go places.
Optionals
Apart from these basic items, you can choose a few more accessories, just in case. Children and new swimmers (if a grownup doesn?t mind being seen in them) can go for inflatable armbands which come at around Rs350-400. A swimbelt is also effective for new enthusiasts and a good brand like Aptonia comes at around Rs300-Rs350. If you do need a vest, you can get one from Rs1,000 to Rs2,300. But that is in case you don?t trust the lifeguard much.
Home pools
If you just want the kids to splash around at home, and you can spare the water, you can also get one of those inflatable pools, which can accommodate four people at a time. Ensure that the water is clean and the pool, on being deflated, is stored properly. They come for around Rs4,500.
Care before and after the water
Swimming is one of the best exercises for your entire body. It not just cools you down during summers, it also uses all your muscles and builds lung power and stamina. But you need to take care of your body and skin after a dip and even before. Dr Pankaj Adhikari and former international swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika recommend some simple tips to ensure you only benefit from this sport.
Ensure the water does not have too much chlorine, which is harmful to the skin. Swimming pools are cleaned with chlorine but too much content in the water is counterproductive, causing eye and hair problems too. One of the most immediate effects of chlorinated water is darkening of skin.
Chlorine dries your skin and prevents it from retaining its normal moisture level, which leads to a tanning effect, making your skin dark. To prevent this, take a bath immediately after stepping out of the pool. The water you take a shower of must be lukewarm. Cold water will not help. Use a mild soap, not a strong deodorising sports soap, to be gentle to your skin. Also, several lotions and skin creams are available which can be applied after the bath. Waterproof sunscreen lotions are particularly recommended.
However, be cautious in choosing these lotions because some may have chemicals which may make the skin darker instead. Also, a combination of chlorinated water, soap, warm water and lotion chemicals may trigger off an allergic reaction like rashes. Ensure the lotion does not contain an allergen. Make a checklist of the allergies you might be prone to and check the ingredients of the skincare lotion so that your particular allergy is not triggered.
Moisturise your skin as well
Once you start swimming regularly, add supplements to your diet, such as Vitamin C, to counteract any possible skin problems or reactions and to boost your body?s immune system. Also, ensure your diet is balanced properly so that your body?s energy levels are not depleted and you truly benefit from the exercise. Keep your body hydrated at all times, before and after swimming, with lots of water and fruit juice. This is particularly important in summer, with the high humidity in this region, and swimming might make you feel your skin is sufficiently hydrated, whereas you might need more water intake.
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