Leeds City Council have announced that Active Leeds is granting free access to their gyms around the city.
The one day incentive takes place on 24th September and is a celebration of National Fitness Day.
Active Leeds has 13 gyms across the city, all of which are included in tomorrow’s initiative.
From open till close, absolutely anyone can take part in the offer which aims to celebrate individual well-being and encourage exercise and activity among local communities in Leeds.
Councillor Salma Arif, Executive Member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, believes the initiative could ignite positive change within Leeds.
“National Fitness Day hopes to inspire millions to get moving and support the NHS by improving the nation’s health. We aim to be a city where everybody can be more active, more often, a city where everyone moves everyday”
The whole initiative to get more people hot and sweaty on National Fitness Day has been designed by ukactive.
Source: James Ghirarduzzi | All Rights Reservedukactive is an organisation which works with local authorities and communities in order to make physical activity more accessible to people across the country.
The not-for-profit organisation’s ultimate goal is to improve the overall health of the nation by promoting active lifestyles, getting more people more active, more often.
Encouraging fitness across the country, particularly in Leeds, can currently be seen as some what of a priority.
According to the Leeds Health and Care Partnership, roughly 25% of adults in Leeds remain inactive, with the figure rising to 36% for those over the age of 65.
Even more concerning, nearly 1 in 3 children in Leeds are currently inactive from any form of sport or activity.
According to the NHS, the recommended amount of exercise for adults in the U.K. is 150 minutes per week. Currently 31% of men and 37% of Women in Leeds are falling short of that.
Physical activity diminishing can also be seen in the lack of members in sports clubs and gyms.
Councillor Arif insists the council are working hard to improve these figures.
“Health and well-being is a key priority of the Council as demonstrated by the Leeds Ambitions. Active Leeds is dedicated to listening to the community and responding to the needs in a genuine and authentic way. Local voices are at the heart of how we work with the community leading the change they want to see resulting in sustainable and impactful projects.”
Despite some worrying figures suggesting that Leeds is not as active as it needs to be, some believe the city is getting a sweat on.
James Catleugh, a Personal Trainer based in Leeds, thinks that the fitness lifestyle has become a core part of Leeds’s identity.
“I think the gym now has become part of our culture. People don’t really want to go to pubs or clubs anymore, they’re a lot more calorie cautious. For me the gym has become the new core social space”
“People are also a lot more conscious now of how they look. I think as a result it’s driving a lot of people into the gym.”
Mr Catleugh would like to see Leeds City Council run similar initiatives throguhout the year.
“I think everywhere should do more things like this. Gyms should be more accessible to everybody, anytime people can make it to the gym, it’s a good thing.”
Source: James Ghirarduzzi | All Rights ReservedFitting in your required exercise is vital to achieving a healthy and long life.
Experts at the American Medical Association finding that getting in your recommended 150 minutes per week can provide the maximum mortality reduction which is between 35% to 42%.
Whether its playing for a high level sports club or going for a light jog a couple times a week, it is essential that everyone finds the time to exercise.
And it is even more vital that everyone has the required access to exercise.
Find a sport club near you here, and if you want to get in the gym click here.
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