It’s also swimming for me. I used to swim combative during my time in school, but stopped after I graduated. I didn’t do any sport regularly for about 10 years and picked up swimming again a year ago and I love it.
It gives me a break from every day stress. Once I’m in the pool, all the noise gets drowned (literally and figuratively). I totally agree that it’s like meditation. Concentrating on your breathing and feeling your body float in the water you either think about nothing, letting your body do the moves you practiced a million times over and over, or you try to feel every muscle and the feedback of the water to try to perfect your stroke by making small adjustments. No distractions, no phone in your pocket, no music in your ears, no one trying to talk to you. Having my routine and knowing how long it takes I don’t even have to check the clock.
Also I like that you don’t have to rely on the weather. There’s no excuse not to go because it’s too hot, or raining or whatever. In an indoor pool you always have the same conditions no matter what.