Thousands of free activities to celebrate National Fitness Day will take place at gyms, pools, leisure centres, schools, sports clubs, parks and workplaces across the UK today (Wednesday 24 September).
Now in its fourteenth year, the campaign, which is coordinated by ukactive, encourages people from all communities to take their first step – or continue their journey – towards a more active lifestyle. In previous years, the campaign has encouraged more than 10 million people to be physically active on the day with the campaign reaching a global media audience of more than 88 million people.
From free gym passes and group exercise classes to world-record attempts and livestreamed workouts, there are options for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, with millions expected to join the fun.
The tagline for this year’s National Fitness Day is ‘Powered by you!’, highlighting that everyone – from individuals and communities to businesses, schools and hospitals – can play their part in spreading the message around the importance of being physically active every day.
Operators and suppliers of gym, leisure and fitness facilities have been personalising the tagline to encourage their audiences to get involved in the run-up to the day, from ‘Powered by beginners’ to ‘Powered by your local spin class’.
Pure Energy Music have created two playlists for National Fitness Day, providing the perfect soundtrack to get people moving. Whether for an upbeat workout or a relaxing yoga session, the playlists are designed for anyone who wants to soundtrack National Fitness Day.
The celebrations come in the week that ukactive releases a new report highlighting the importance of physical activity for those living with mental health conditions.
The report, ‘Mental Health in Motion: Consumer Perspectives on Mental Health in Fitness and Leisure’ report , found that nearly three quarters (72%) of adults surveyed with a mental health condition say being physically active has helped them avoid sickness and absence from work.
Despite this, only 16% of those living with a mental health condition feel able to meet the Chief Medical Officers’ recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of physical activity a week.
The Government’s NHS 10-Year Health Plan for England is called ‘Fit for the Future’ and outlines the importance of using public campaigns to motivate millions more to move on a regular basis.
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said:
“National Fitness Day is a powerful reminder of the many benefits of physical activity and the perfect opportunity to inspire more people to begin their personal journey to a healthier, more active lifestyle.
“Today, millions of people will help celebrate the importance of being active and also recognise the essential role of facilities such as gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres within every community in the UK.
“Last year we hit a record 11.5 million members of health and fitness clubs in the UK and with more people than ever prioritising their physical and mental health, we have a huge opportunity to get more people active.”
The National Fitness Day location finder is full of facilities across the UK that are hosting activities. Find one that suits you here.
Show us how you’re getting involved using #FitnessDay and tagging us on our channels – X: @FitnessDayUK or Instagram @fitnessdayuk
Listen to Pure Energy Music’s National Fitness Day’s playlists – choose from ‘National Fitness Day: Upbeat Vibes’ or ‘National Fitness Day: Mindful Beats’.
