Leisure centres—10 easy ways to get fit

Bowls

A low-impact sport that keeps you fit, improves your coordination and works your mind. It's also an enjoyable sport to play with friends. Many leisure centres now have purpose-built bowling greens.

Dance

An energetic, calorie-busting form of exercise. Leisure centres offer the opportunity to learn Latin, salsa, ballroom and many other dance styles. Most leisure centres have websites where you can check which dance classes are available locally.

Fencing

Fencing improves your speed, flexibility and reflexes. It's a good mental workout and a lot of fun, especially if you love pirate movies! Fencing classes are available at many leisure centres nationwide, and the equipment, such as foils, sabres and epees, is often provided free.

Ice-skating rinks

Ice rinks can be found at leisure centres nationwide. Ice skating is a great aerobic workout that targets lots of muscle groups because you're constantly moving and stretching different parts of the body. It also improves your balance!

Indoor climbing

Another increasingly popular pastime at UK leisure centres. It's a good way to burn fat, improve your balance and flexibility, and strengthen muscle. You can also find out if you want to try outdoor climbing without having to buy all the gear!

Swimming

Swimming tones your body, strengthens your heart, improves your stamina, all without putting any stress on your joints—so it's the perfect workout for all ages. Many leisure centres have swimming pools.

Tenpin bowling

Tenpin bowling gives your heart a gentle workout, tones muscle and is good for your balance. Because of its popularity as a family sport, many leisure centres now have bowling lanes.

Trampolining

An enjoyable way of toning muscle, developing strength and improving cardio-vascular fitness. Leisure centres nationwide run trampolining sessions for adults and children.

Weight training

Muscle-building and aerobic sessions that can be enjoyed at all levels. Even very low weights tone and strengthen muscles—including that most important muscle, the heart—and burn calories. Virtually all leisure centres offer weight-training facilities and a gym.

Yoga

Yoga increases the body's flexibility and reduces stress and tension. A spiritual discipline thousands of years old, there are different types of yoga, including the gentle Hatha and the fiercely aerobic Ashtanga yoga, which can be practised at leisure centres.

And after all that exercise...

Perhaps a spot of pampering is in order. Leisure centres across the UK provide plenty of facilities to help you relax: beauty and nail treatments, saunas, steam rooms and more are often available.