When it comes to getting the most out of your fitness routine, variety is key. Combining land and water workouts helps improve endurance, strength, and recovery — all while keeping things fun and engaging. If you’re looking for a gym with an indoor pool, Lakeshore Sport & Fitness offers the ideal setup to balance both strength and swim training year-round.

Why Combine Swimming and Strength Training?

Swimming is one of the most effective full-body exercises you can do. It strengthens your muscles, boosts cardiovascular health, and improves flexibility — all with minimal impact on your joints. Pairing that with resistance training creates a powerful combination for total-body conditioning.

Here’s how the two work together:

• Strength training builds muscle that supports powerful, efficient swimming strokes.
• Swimming improves endurance and cardiovascular capacity, helping you perform better in the weight room.
• Active recovery in the pool reduces soreness and promotes better muscle repair after lifting sessions.

At Lakeshore Sport & Fitness, you can seamlessly move from the fitness floor to the pool deck, integrating both forms of exercise into a single visit.

Sample “Swim + Lift” Routine

Here’s a simple way to structure your dual workout at a gym with an indoor pool:

1. Warm-Up (10–15 minutes)
Start on the fitness floor with light cardio and dynamic stretches to activate your muscles.

2. Strength Circuit (30–40 minutes)
Focus on compound movements that complement your swim technique — such as squats, rows, pull-ups, and presses. These exercises target the same major muscle groups you use in the water.

3. Swim Workout (20–30 minutes)
Finish your session with swim intervals or endurance laps. Alternate between moderate-paced laps and short sprints to elevate your heart rate.

4. Cool Down & Recover
End with an easy swim or gentle floating movements, followed by stretching or time in the sauna or steam room — both available at Lakeshore Sport & Fitness.

The Benefits of a Gym with an Indoor Pool

Choosing a gym with an indoor pool means your workouts never have to depend on the weather. Whether it’s raining, snowing, or scorching outside, you can swim comfortably all year long. Plus, having both fitness and aquatics under one roof allows for:

• Convenience: Lift and swim in a single visit or mix it up on different days of the week.
• Consistency: Stay on track with your fitness goals regardless of the season.
• Variety: Break free from routine and keep your workouts engaging.
• Wellness: Use swimming for relaxation, mobility, and stress relief.

Get Started with Our Intro to Lap Swimming Workshop

If you’re new to lap swimming or haven’t swum in a while, our Intro to Lap Swimming workshop is the perfect way to dive in. These special events are your 101 guide to everything you need to know to confidently do your own lap swimming in the pool.

You’ll learn:

• What a standard warm-up looks like.
• How to use all the equipment — including kickboards and pull buoys.
• How to understand and structure intervals in the water.
• How to put together a complete swim workout.

This isn’t a stroke technique class — it’s more of a “how to show up and swim” class designed to make you comfortable and capable during your pool sessions. Everyone will get in the water to experience a mini warm-up, a mini workout, and hands-on practice with equipment.

Train Smarter at Lakeshore Sport & Fitness

At Lakeshore Sport & Fitness, we’re more than just a gym with an indoor pool — we’re a community that supports every aspect of your health and wellness. With our state-of-the-art fitness centers, professional personal trainers, and beautifully maintained indoor pools, you can build a balanced routine that challenges your body while giving it the recovery it deserves.

Swim. Lift. Repeat. It’s the formula for stronger, more sustainable fitness — and it all starts at Lakeshore Sport & Fitness. Check out our gyms with indoor pools in Downtown Chicago and Lincoln Park!

Aquatics at LSF-Lincoln Park

Aquatics at LSF-Illinois Center