There are some brilliant reasons for adding swimming into your fitness regime, and some great facts about how swimming can benefit you and your health. Here are few:

- 30 minutes of steady paced lane swimming burns over 200 calories

- 30 minutes of activity in the water is worth 45 minutes of the same 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

- Swimming works your whole body for all over toning!

- Swimming is great for your heart and your circulation. Because 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 - length swimming in particular forces you to breathe in a deep and rhythmic way which gives your lungs a boost

- Being in water can have great psychological benefits too - the pool can 'take you away from it all' and the feeling of being in water can be refreshing, relaxing, and liberating as the water takes your weight

- Swimming can offer the ultimate challenge at any level, whether that's swimming the length of the channel in your local pool or taking the plunge at an open water swimming event

- Swimming is a sport people can start at any age, and can do for life - there is even a category for people who want to race in events over the age of 100!

- Female swimmers have been shown to experience significantly less tension, depression and anger after exercising than before.

- Around one in six people in Britain suffer from depression. Swimming can improve psychological well being.

- Swimming can support up to 90% of the body's weight in the water, meaning that those with disabilities, injuries or illnesses such as arthritis can take part in a comfortable and safe environment

- Studies have shown that swimming and running have similar health benefits.

- Different swimming strokes challenge different muscles within the body so you can target groups for development

- Because water is about 800 times denser than air, you can work harder in a pool than out of it.

- Water-based exercise enables a maximum range of motion and provides multi-directional 'full body' resistance that is 12 to 14 times greater than air.

Find your next swimming session; the Rock Pool Timetable