Free sessions around the country to celebrate the wonderful world of fitness
There seems to be a day for everything at the moment. At one end of the scale you’ve got things like National Spider-Man day, National Root Beer Float Day and, our personal favourite, National Trail mix day – you know, fairly pointless things – whilst at the other end you have events that are actually there to serve a purpose and drive awareness.
National Fitness Day is one of the latter and an event that we can fully get on board with. Unlike the vast majority of tenuous national days, it’s a day where there’s a lot happening for you to get involved with.
What’s it all about?
Taking place on 25 September, the nationwide campaign is designed to get people involved in fitness – from elite athletes to those that are looking for a way to start on their journey.
The whole thing is about offering people the opportunity to try new activities and highlight the role that physical activity plays in helping us lead healthier, happier lives.
Why do we need it?
It’s no secret that physical inactivity has massive implications for preventable diseases and conditions such as type-2 diabetes, some cancers and osteoporosis.
Evidence from ukactive, the company behind the initiative, show that the average adult spends more time on the toilet every week than exercising and eight times longer watching on-demand TV than exercising.
Need more? A study by the World Health Organisation last year also revealed that 36% of UK residents in 2016 were inactive.
So you can see why National Fitness Day has come about. To raise the profile of fitness to people that don’t do enough of it. Not only is it something that will improve physical health but it also has enormous benefits for mental health, confidence and social connections.
What can you expect?
The day takes place every year during the European Week of Sport. Last year it saw over 4 million people involved in activities throughout the day, from school classes to workplaces, across every region of the UK.
This year thousands of fitness locations, from gyms and sports clubs to parks and leisure centres, will be joining in the movement to get people active.
Those activities span an enormous range of options, designed to offer a chance for people to have fun as opposed to making them sweat out a 45-minute CrossFit workout (unless that’s your thing). Maybe head out for a free swimming session at the local pool, try out a climbing wall for the first time or take part in a dance class. It’s completely up to you.
How to get involved
There are many ways to show your support for the cause. For some that might be pulling an event together and inviting people to come and join, for others that might be banging the fitness drum across social media to raise awareness of the various things going on around you.
The easiest way to find out what’s happening around your area is to use this handy tool on the National Fitness Day website. Simply put in your postcode and see what’s going on, from free fitness classes to gym open days or world record attempts.
You don’t have to get involved with other people though. If you’re the sort of solo fitness fan that wants to go it alone then go right ahead – but you can still help promote the cause by letting people know on social media with the hashtag #Fitness2Me. Easy.
Need some ideas in London?
Well, you’ve come to the right place, we’re full ideas for fitness ideas for the capital.
Get running
Whether you tackle a marathon a week or have just bought your first pair of running shoes, trying out new routes is one of the most fun parts of clocking up the miles. Check out our guide to the best running routes in London for some ideas on where to go on National Fitness Day.
Try out a new class
London has its fair share of classes to pick from and we’ve tried most of them. Why not take a look through our guide to the best sessions to pick something completely new and different?
Go for a walk
Active is active, you don’t need to head out for a gruelling hour-long sprint session to feel the benefits of fitness. Just tie your shoelaces and head out on one of our favourite London walking routes.
Get spinning
Whether you love spin or you hate it, there’s no denying it’s an incredible way to get fit and can be great fun as well. Try out one of our tried and tested spin studios for a stationary bike experience you won’t forget in a hurry.
Try a home workout
Don’t fancy mingling with other humans? Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. Why not take on a workout in the comfort of your own front room with one of the best workout apps available at the moment?
For more information on National Fitness Day and what’s going on click here.
