Celebrate National Fitness Day with a swim!

Today is National Fitness Day, an annual celebration of keeping active to encourage the nation to get moving more regularly.

A recent survey by UKactive showed the average Briton spends more time on the toilet than they do keeping active. The NHS recommends that an adult should do around 150 minutes of physical activity each week. But more than a quarter do 30 minutes or less!

Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise you can do. In a major report into the health and wellbeing benefits of swimming, it was found that the unique benefits of water make it the perfect place for people of all ages to exercise.

Swimming is a fully accessible sport and has particular benefits for people with long-term health conditions. It is also a great form of exercise for older people, as it helps to maintain physical and mental health.

At the other end of the spectrum, children who take part in regular swimming lessons develop physical, cognitive and social skills quicker than those who do not.

Head of Health and Wellbeing, Elaine McNish said: “Keeping active is a very important part of maintaining your health and wellbeing. It helps to keep you physically fit, so that you can continue to enjoy being active all of your life, but it also maintains good mental health.

“Swimming is a great equaliser. It allows people of all ages and abilities to come together and enjoy keeping active together. Whether you’re an older person looking to socialise, a young person who wants to push themselves to get fitter, or a young child just starting to develop a love for sport – the unique benefits of water make it the ideal environment for everyone to keep an active lifestyle.”

Share your love of fitness with your friends

As part of National Fitness Day, UKactive is asking you to share your experiences of being active. They hope to inspire and encourage other people to make more time for physical activity.

If you are heading to your local pool today, why not Tweet a picture either before or after your swim. Tell people what keeping fit means to you using the hashtag #Fitness2Me. Help break down the barriers that stop people being active, and show that fitness is for everyone!

• Click here to find out more about National Fitness Day 2017.