So you don’t have money for your own fitness equipment or you are on the road? No problem – there are plenty of outdoor gyms for you to use.
They can be formally set up outdoor gyms, like thousands have been set up in China before the Olympic Games and in cities all over the world.
Miami and Miami Beach for example have invested in great outdoor gyms lately to get their obesity rate down. There was even a report about it on CNN, have a look at it here:
Why Use Outdoor Gyms?
I guess the first point is very obvious – you are out in the fresh air doing your exercises. What can be better than that?
Another point in favour of outdoor gyms is that they usually don’t have any entrance or membership fee. They are there for you to enjoy for free.
You will meet great people there. Not always the same gym junkies (even though there probably will be a number of them as well), but visitors, travellers, fist timers – all sorts of people dare to give these outdoor gyms a go as they don’t have so much peer pressure like in a normal gym. So they can start to live healthy, exercise, have fun, without the price tag of a gym membership attached to it.
Where To Find Your Outdoor Gyms
But what if you don’t live in Miami, China, or an area that does have professionally designed and equipped outdoor gyms? Nothing to worry about, you can just make up your very own personal outdoor gym.
Or you might have an “old” exercise trail close by. They have been around a long time and give you some props to do do sit ups, push ups or pull ups. Have a look in your local park for this type of outdoor gym.
You can become inventive, creative and see the world around you through “gym” eyes. There is so much around you in the outdoors that you can use as gym equipment, you will be amazed. Once you have started looking at day to day items as possible exercise equipments, the whole world will become your very personal outdoor gym.
I can give you some suggestions here, but please feel free to add your own ideas and creations. I am sure everybody else would like to hear about them down in the comment section as well.
So, let’s get started:
- Use the park bench for triceps dips
- Reclaim the boardwalk / a low step / some bricks to do calf stretches/push ups
- Do you push ups against a low wall or (again) a bench
- Sit on a low wall, a chair at the ice cream parolor or (again?) the park bench, don’t lean against the back part and stretch out both legs and fold them back
Ok, I am just running out of ideas so I will have to google a few more for you to keep you going but you get the point, right?
In case you don’t want to solely rely on what your surroundings offer you get yourself a piece of tube rubber that you can take with you in your pocket and start doing exercises any time anywhere.
Other Forms Of Outdoor Gyms
Parkour (or Free Running) might be an extreme version of turning your environment into an outdoor gym. If you want to try this check your area for introductory sessions on Parkour, because it is more an art form than a pure exercise routine.
On the other hand there are more and more (free) courses on offer in parks and public areas like Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, stretching classes – you name it. Councils around the world seem to realize that a bit of investment in sport is the best prevention from an unhealthy, sick society which will cost way more longterm than investing in a few trainers to give those free lessons.
So, when will you be using outdoor gyms? As you can turn everything into an outdoor gym there are no more excuses left. And if you are interested in more ideas around “outdoor” have a look at these posts (they are all part of a group writing project):
Outdoor A Reflection Of Indoor
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Twitter: lisasdream
says:
I love the sound of the outdoor gym. That one in Miami Beach looks fantastic – love how that guy has been running everyday since the 70′s and can run for 8k!! He looks so fit. The outdoor gym is so good because their are no joining fees and people can get to meet each other!
Cheers
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
yes, I really like the idea of an outdoor gym as well. Especially when you live somewhere with great weather most of the time, why would you like to be inside in the first place? And with such an outdoor gym you can do all your exercise and still enjoy the outdoors!
Twitter: ambersky3
says:
I love these outdoor Gyms, the first one I saw was built by the parents association at the school my kids attended, nowhere as good as they are today but they were effective and you would often see the adults doing the circuit on the weekends.
Twitter: jen_9_5
says:
I live near a park that has community equipment that everyone can use for fitness. There is a rowing machine and several other pieces. It is a great idea and one that I have seen in other local parks.
Hi Jenny,
congratulations for living so close to an outdoor gym. I hope you also have the time to use it
Hi Rita,
congratulations on such a great parents association! And I think a school is a great place to have an outdoor gym as it hopefully encourages the kids to have fun outside and being active.
Twitter: dinnerintenmin
says:
How funny you should be talking about outdoor gyms. Just this weekend I was walking in Manly (beach suburb of Sydney) and there was a fabulous outdoor gym – recently put in I think. Some of the equipment looked very similar to your first image.
but I could see that taken a bit more seriously they would be brilliant.
My husband and I had a ‘go’ on them all – had a bit of a laugh actually
Pingback: Top Ten Outdoor Activities for Kids - Raising Great Kids | Raising Great Kids Blog
Outdoor gyms look like a fantastic idea and gives nobody any excuses about not being able to afford to go to a gym. Personally I am a little too self conscious to do my exercises on an outdoor gym but I am sure they would suit a lot of people.
I live near a park and see people exercising in groups and with personal trainers. When I was at Sydney Park, there were a lot of people exercising in groups. Exercising outdoors is great and gives everyone their daily dose of vitamin D.
Hi Jan,
great that you have a new outdoor gym close buy. And laughing is very healthy as well, it also counts as exercise
Hi Jackie,
I wouldn’t know if there are more people observing what you are doing in an indoor gym or an outdoor gym. Go with a group of friends and just treat it as a “playground for grown-ups”. That way you will have lots of healthy laughs as well.
Hello Kerry,
yes, more and more people utilize the great outdoors for the exercises, and why not? When you are in a beautiful park air quality is probably much better than in side a gym and I agree with the vitamin D – your body needs some sunshine exposure to create it, so that’s another plus.
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My sister in law goes to an outside gym, and loves it. So much nicer to be outside, especially when there is a nice breeze blowing, the scenery is better and the air fresh.
Hi Carolyn,
I agree with your sister in law, and outside gym is a great alternative to working out inside – much more refreshing
Twitter: foodpedia
says:
There is a park down the road from my place that has outdoor equipment; and really good quality too. It gets heaps of use and as you say, it is great to be in the fresh air. That’s what living life is about.
Eileen recently posted..Raw Food Ebook
Twitter: SeanMcLaughlin0
says:
Thanks for your article, I actually just bought myself a home gym station, even though I still have a few months left on my gym membership. There is something about not having to travel anywhere that keeps me more motivated.