A leading health and fitness provider has introduced a new initiative to help swimmers use the pool more profitably in their weekday workouts.

 

Sheffield International Venues (SIV) has introduced and enhanced Swimfit – a scheme designed to ensure swimmers are using all muscle groups, making their time in the water as productive as possible.

 

The scheme is being launched at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, one of the UK’s leading aquatic centres, in January 2008.

 

Participation in the Amateur Swimming Association’s Swimfit scheme is traditionally at the discretion of swimmers who can pick up reference cards from the poolside to pick up tips but SIV are further enhancing the initiative by providing coached sessions.

 

Ponds Forge is home to an Olympic standard 50 metre pool where the sessions will take place.

 

General manager Helen Broadbent said: “South Yorkshire is fortunate enough to have such fantastic swimming facilities in the Olympic standard pool at Ponds Forge and we want to encourage people to make the most of it.

 

“It can be easy for gym users to forget that their Fitness Unlimited membership includes use of the pool but the Swimfit sessions act as a reminder and encourage members to incorporate a swim into their regular fitness programme.

 

“The Swimfit coached sessions are suitable for anyone who wants to use swimming as a way of keeping fit and are looking for a swimming based workout. Typical users range from anyone who attends lane swimming, people looking for an alternative to a fitness class to tri-athletes and ex-swimmers. 

 

“The Swimfit sessions differ from swimming lessons in that not only do they focus on technique but they also develop use of different strokes whilst completing speed and stamina training sets.”

 

All of the sessions are taken by fully qualified staff and swimmers from the Adult Advanced lessons at Ponds Forge have already expressed an interest in the new classes. The cards will also remain on the poolside at the venue for swimmers to use when they are lane swimming.

 

Swimfit is free to SIV’s Fitness Unlimited members while non members can pay per session. Staff at the venue will be reminding centre users that their membership includes access to the high quality pool and will be encouraging them to factor a swim into their work out regime.

 

The Swimfit sessions begin in January at Ponds Forge and are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12.15pm to 1.15pm. The classes cost £4.70 for non Fitness Unlimited members.

 

Swimfit is due to be rolled out at Ponds Forge’s sister SIV venues Hillsborough Leisure Centre and Concord Sports Centre in 2008. The treble award winning Hillsborough Leisure Centre will also be launching sessions in January with Concord following suit later in the year.

 

For further information about Swimfit, lane swimming and the facilities at Ponds Forge visit www.ponds-forge.co.uk. For further information about SIV and all of the venues visit www.sivltd.com