News

Hillingdon Sports & Leisure Complex will be launching the latest Swimfit programme with Olympic swimmers, Mark Foster and Sarah Price on Wednesday 4 August. Visitors are welcome to come along and watch, and regular swimmers will be invited to join in the first Swimfit sessions which will be run by Mark and Sarah, subject to pool capacity, at 4.00pm.

British Gas Swimfit is suitable for all ages and abilities - whether you're looking to keep healthy, shape and tone up, improve your fitness or hone your competitive edge. 
 
The website, www.swimfit.com, has been around for a while but this initiative brings the "swim gym" idea right to the poolside with information displays, and cards with suggested programmes to lead you through a progressive fitness plan that you can dip in and out of.  They range from simple advice on strengthening exercises, to tips on making your time in the pool more interesting   - through to stroke improvement tips. 
 
The Swimfit website has been popular with athletes and novice swimmers alike. The addition of poolside information is useful for beginners and people thinking of getting back into the pool. The sessions have also been successful for people who can’t run or have joint or heart problem, or recovering from injury or illness as it’s a gentle, no impact form of exercise. 
 
There will also be regular weekly sessions so you needn’t feel intimidated by fellow swimmers blasting you out of the water as they speed down the centre of the lane.
 
The programmes are designed to help keep you motivated, structure your time in the pool, set goals and rewards as you work towards targets you set for yourself.  It brings the opportunity to join the swimming community, and swim with confidence. 
 
 
Mark Foster and Sarah Price
 
One of the world’s top swimmers, Mark Foster burst onto the international  scene as a youngster representing England at the 1986 Commonwealth Games at the age of 17 and went on to dominate freestyle and butterfly sprint events. He has competed at five Olympic Games, broken eight world records and won six World Titles.  He still loves swimming and is keen to get more people in the water.
 
Sarah Price has been to two Olympic Games, is a double Commonwealth Champion and former world record holder for 200m Backstroke.  Since retiring from international competition she is passionate about motivating people both in learning how to swim and also learning how to be a champion. 
 

Themes
There are four themes to British Gas Swimfit, approved by the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association):

1. Swim for health is designed for those who probably swim once or twice a week and incorporate swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle programme.
2. If the individual would like to increase their exercise programme they can look at the Shape up and Tone programme which is designed for those who are looking to bring about some changes in the way they look and can be used as part of a weight management programme. This may be for an individual to maintain their current weight but to achieve a more toned appearance or as part of a weight loss programme.
3. The fitness category is designed for those who aim to use swimming as their primary source of a keep fit programme. Individuals are probably interested in improving their fitness level rather than just maintaining the status quo. The individual’s aim will be to improve their physical appearance and to ensure that their heart and lungs remain in tip top condition. 
4. The competitive category is designed for those with aspirations to compete or who are already competing but need additional sessions to supplement what they probably already do in a club situation.  

The aim for the individual is to improve personal performance as measured by the time taken to cover a range of distances.
 

Benefits of Swimming

• Up to 45 minutes of steady paced lane swimming can burn over 200 calories.
• 30 minutes of activity in the water is worth 45 minutes of activity on land as the resistance of the water makes your body work that little bit harder.
• The water takes your weight, so swimming can be great for those who want low impact exercise, like women during pregnancy or people who have mobility problems or want to protect their joints. This can link to aqua health clubs and GP referral etc.
• Swimming is great for your heart and your circulation. As you are using your whole body your heart has to pump blood hard to your arms and legs.
• It is also great for your lungs – swimming forces you to breathe in a deep and rhythmic way which gives your lungs a boost.
• Swimming can offer the ultimate challenge at any level, whether that’s swimming the distance of the channel in your local pool or taking the plunge at one of the open water British Gas Great Swim events. 

For more information contact the centre directly on 0845 130 7324.