The benefits of swimming as a form of exercise are well documented. And of course we all know swimming is fun as well. But for most people, having a swimming pool in their backyard or home is simply out of financial reach. Or perhaps there just isn't enough space available. That's where the lap pool comes in to solve both problems.

Basically you have a couple of choices. You can get either a full length lap pool, or one of the small models where you swim against jets of water coming against you. Either way the health benefits are numerous. If you think about it, it's almost like having the perfect exercise machine at your home.

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 is better than running because it greatly reduces your chance of getting hurt. It's low impact, so there's no constant pounding on your joints. That means no aching feet, knees or back. You get all the fitness benefits without all the aches and pains.

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.

And while a lap pool is not cheap, it's much less expensive than building a traditional swimming pool. And it will take up less space. Furthermore, if you get a smaller one where you swim in place, you can even put it in your home. No longer will the weather be a factor in whether or not you exercise.

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?