According to the New York Times , "Mick Hilleary, an industrial designer who builds zoo exhibits and trade show displays, and who expanded into residential pools five years ago, has found that Americans have a clearly defined idea of what constitutes a proper swimming pool.
"Natural swimming pools (or swimming ponds, as they are called in Europe, where the concept originated 20 years ago) are self-cleaning pools that combine swimming areas and water gardens. Materials and designs vary — the pools can be lined with rubber or reinforced polyethylene, as in the case of Total Habitat’s, and may look rustic or modern — but all natural pools rely on “regeneration” zones, areas given over to aquatic plants that act as organic cleansers."
According to The Red Deer Advocate, Shirley "Simpson suffered for 18 years with chronic pain. In particular, neck and back pain caused by a vehicle collision limited what she could do in life."
Simpson reports that swimming "has changed her outlook on life and helped her deal with her pain. 'Above learning the techniques of the different strokes, I would say going from feeling like a patient to feeling like an athlete that is a tremendous difference,' Simpson said. 'It makes you feel so much better as a person.'”