Exercise and fitness

People of all ages swim for health and fitness or in preparation for specific events. Ocean baths rather than stillwater pools are the most appropriate training facilities for surf lifesavers, triathletes and other open ocean swimmers. Other people chose to exercise there to enjoy the live water and beautiful setting of the baths

At ocean baths without marked lanes, head-up swimmers can use a whole range of landmarks as reference points, while head-down swimmers often rely on cracks in the concrete floor to guide them down the pool

Swimming is not the only form of exercise that people engage in at the ocean baths. Some pool patrons work out with kick boards, fins or snorkels, simply walk in the water or do exercises derived from aquarobics and hydrotherapy. People with arthritis,  head or back injuries, recovering from strokes, dealing with post-polio syndrome or other disabilities use the ocean baths to exercise and strengthen their bodies. Regular lap swimmers can resent having to dodge 'teabags', who just jiggle up and down in the pool

Ocean baths are also places where people exercise outside the water, perhaps practicing yoga, as at Wylies Baths

Rugby League teams like the Newcastle Knights sometimes exercise at the ocean baths before and after competition games

Swimming and other forms of exercise and fitness training have received support from various levels of government. In 1939, the National Fitness movement began as a co-ordinated effort throughout the entire Commonwealth of Australia. The National Fitness Council of New South Wales promoted physical fitness in the general community and advised the Education Department on the best ways of implementing physical fitness programs for  school children. The National Fitness Council of New South Wales operated until 1969. when the Physical Education Branch was replaced by the National Fitness and Recreation Service and the Chief Inspector of Physical Education

A 1971 Act gave a new National Fitness Council the role of making recommendations to the Government concerning national fitness and recreation in New South Wales, and assisting organisations concerned with national fitness and recreation, including co-operating with and assisting the Sport and Recreation Service in the conduct of its activities

Later Commonwealth Government support for active physical recreation took the gentler 'Life Be in init' approach focused on individual fitness rather than promoting fitness for national service or other national emergencies

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