Now that summer is here, you’re liable to be having daily fun in your backyard pool. But are you taking full advantage of all it has to offer? Unless it’s an Olympic-sized pool, which isn’t likely in a home setting, swimming and other health-centric activities may not be possible.

But that’s easy to fix. Simply put the money you were going to spend on a vacation toward a worthwhile home improvement project – one that will transform your pool into a family health center.

It’s simple to do, and it doesn’t matter if you have an in-ground pool that takes up the whole backyard or a small, kidney-shaped pool.

Among the improvements you may want to consider are a solar heater that will allow you to extend the swimming season several weeks or even months; adding an adjacent hot tub or spa you can kick back and relax in after a stressful day; or perhaps adding a Fastlane by Endless Pools, Inc. The Fastlane is a small device that will add limitless swimming and exercise possibilities to your existing pool.

It may not have been the reason you bought a house with a pool, or had one installed, but ask any doctor and they’ll tell you that swimming is one of the best forms of aerobic exercise you can get. Swimming works your whole body, improving cardiovascular conditioning, muscle strength, endurance, posture and flexibility all at the same time.

“There are numerous studies that talk about how beneficial swimming is for your health, but very few backyard pools were designed to really swim in. The Fastlane makes it possible for you to take full advantage of the pool and all it has to offer,” said James Murdock, president of Endless Pools, Inc.

Often referred to as a swimmer’s treadmill, the Fastlane creates a clear, turbulent-free current that is wide and deep, and will turn any sized pool into one you can swim in for as long as you want without stopping or turning. The current is ideal for exercise and therapy.

The Fastlane is also great for teaching kids how to swim and can transform the pool into a backyard water park. No traveling to this attraction is necessary. Just hop on a pool lounger and float down a pretend lazy river, or turn up the current and splash around in the rapids created by the machine.

The Fastlane fits in any pool and is easy to install. The unit is hydraulically powered, so electricity is kept at a safe distance, and because the swim current is isolated, it won’t disturb others in the pool enjoying other activities.