Residents of Easington will be able to benefit from using swimming as part of a fitness programme thanks to a link between the asa’s Everyday Swim programme, Slimming World and Northumbrian Water.

A Swimfit unit has been fitted on the poolside of Peterlee Leisure Centre, and offers a structured gym-style swimming workout, using equipment from the newly-installed unit.

It contains waterproof workout cards and swimming equipment including kickboards and hand paddles, which enable swimmers to get the most out of their workout. A member of staff, who acts as a personal trainer, is on hand by the poolside at allocated times to provide support, advice and encouragement.

The unit was fitted in conjunction with the asa’s Everyday Swim programme which aims to breakdown barrier to participation that stop people taking to the pool.

It is part of Swim for Fitness sessions, and Slimming World is now recommending the programme as a way to get fit and lose weight.

The session starts at 7pm, with Everyday Swim offering all members of Slimming World the opportunity to be part of the 'Swim for Fitness' sessions in the pool between 8.30pm and 9.30pm directly after the Slimming World session by providing them with discounted vouchers and an opportunity to learn to swim.

Anyone who attends the Slimming World session will be given a number of swim vouchers to give them a taster session for ‘Swim for Fitness’, which coincides with the end of their time with the diet guru’s.

It is hoped that this initiative will then go on to encourage more people to take to the pool as a means to improve their lifestyle.

With nearly 12 million people across the UK regularly taking to the pool, swimming is one of the country’s most popular forms of exercise and is a great way to keep active whatever your age or fitness.

Regular physical activity brings a variety of benefits. It can improve your mood, help you sleep better, boost your immune system, aid weight management, help improve balance (reducing falls in older adults) and even reduce your risk of developing diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Swimming and exercise in water is an excellent way to get physically active. The pressure and resistance of the water makes your body work that little bit harder and a 30-minute session in the water can be the equivalent to a 45-minute to one hour work-out on land.

By exercising in the water, you will condition more parts of your body than most other forms or exercise and the level of resistance provided by the water will provide you with a toned figure instead of building large muscles.

Because of the buoyancy in water, aquatic exercise is accessible to everyone and is particularly beneficial for older people, pregnant women, people with low back pain, those suffering from arthritis and individuals rehabilitating from a variety of injuries.

Swimming is even a good form of exercise for asthmatics and regular swimming will help increase lung capacity. Some of the country’s top swimmers have been asthmatics, including Sarah Price, James Gibson and Karen Pickering.

Sally Scott is a regular attendee of the Swim for Fitness session and felt the benefit of doing so.

"After going to the pool to help lose weight and get fit, I saw a lady trainer giving instructions and encouraging some female swimmers. At the end of the session I enquired to see what she had been doing. Lorraine explained all about the Swim for Fitness programme and encouraged me to come along and participate,” said Scott.

“I have now been doing the programme five times a week for three weeks and have progressed to the first of the Swimfit gold levels. I am really enjoying the programme and the help from the trainer is invaluable. I have already dropped a dress size and my fitness has improved significantly, I believe it is all down to the Swim for Fitness programme.”

Northumbrian Water’s investment in the asa's North East region helped fund the Swimfit unit.

-ENDS-

For more information contact asa Media Assistant Steph West on 01509 632236, 07917 876 459 or email stephanie.west@swimming.org

The asa is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The asa supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The asa aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

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