For many people, swimming is the preferred way to exercise.

The advantages swimming has over other types of activity are manifold: it is easy on the joints, develops muscular strength and endurance, improves cardiovascular fitness and supports your weight.

Swimming also burns off plenty of calories, because it is a whole-body exercise that demands good technique and concentration.

A lot of older people turn to swimming, because it is one of the safest modes of exercise as you age.

There are four main swimming strokes: freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly.

Most people stick to the first three because butterfly is particularly demanding and can be hard to master.

Your best bet is to start with freestyle. This is the most common stroke practiced by lane swimmers and will be your quickest way to get better.

The good news is that you don’t need much in the way of equipment to get started. You only need a set of bathers, a towel and some goggles. In fact, swimming is one of the cheapest forms of exercise.

It is probably a good idea to take some swimming lessons; these will greatly accelerate your learning.