Want to swim but find it too much of a hassle? Me too – but here’s how I cracked it

What is the equivalent of a Couch to 5k or parkrun for swimmers? Do I need loads of expensive gear? And should I join a club? Here’s how I learned to love the pool

The one change that worked: I could never get fit – until I tried a 40-second plank every day

All my attempts at exercise had ended in failure, so I decided to lower the bar. Five years of planking later and I’m a stronger and healthier person – sorry ‘athlete’

The experts: neurologists on 17 simple ways to look after your brain

Sleep well, swap butter for olive oil, learn a musical instrument – or embrace some other ‘magnificent obsession’. Here is what doctors do themselves to delay the onset of cognitive decline

The new rules of gym etiquette: don’t film yourself, never mansplain – and keep your top on

Top personal trainers offer their tips on avoiding fitness faux pas, so you don’t have to sweat the small stuff

‘Helped me take 22 minutes off my PB’: top runners on their favourite shoes

A good pair of running shoes isn’t one size fits all. We asked the experts for trainers they swear by

‘One father threatened to stab the referee’: why does kids’ football bring out the worst in parents?

When they’re not shouting at their own children, many of Britain’s soccer dads like nothing more than swearing at the officials, or even trading blows on the touchline. Isn’t this supposed to be fun?

Treadmills are out, barbells are in: why gym-goers are abandoning cardio for weight training

Is loads of muscle all you need for a long and healthy life? You’d think so, given the way everyone’s fighting over the squat racks

11 things you should know about using the gym, from ‘Is everyone watching me?’ to ‘How do I use a squat rack?’

More and more of us are spending time among the barbells and the treadmills – and feeling more and more confused. Here’s some advice from an expert

Walking the Pennine Way put everything into perspective for me, including my right to be here

Inspired by the Manchester Ramblers, who campaigned on exclusion and the countryside, I’m also taking a stand

Good news at last: just a little exercise can reduce the risk of dementia

A recent study shows the benefit of being a middle-aged ‘weekend warrior’ who only exercises once or twice a week, writes Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh