Exercise is a key part of living a healthy lifestyle. From boosting your mood to helping decrease your risk of heart disease, moving your body has a range of physical and mental health benefits. However, getting enough exercise can be difficult, especially for those who may not have access to a gym. One possible solution that’s always there? Outdoor fitness.
While outdoor fitness is not a new phenomenon, it has evolved considerably over the years. Early designs often mimicked indoor machines, and with poor resistance and ergonomics, lacked functionality. With better designs and more accessible options for all ages and abilities, outdoor fitness areas are popular year-round, offering residents an outlet to enjoy being outside (even in the winter) while also engaging in healthy habits!
Outdoor Fitness: Then and Now
In the early days of outdoor fitness, options were limited. Setups were often poorly designed, without the necessary components for an effective, full-body workout. Additionally, equipment was often too high or unsuitable for certain users, and outdoor fitness lacked accessibility and practicality for many.
In the 1960s, Swiss architect Erwin Weckemann designed the parcourse, which consisted of exercise equipment stations spaced throughout running trails, and by the 1970s, this design had made its way to the U.S. Soon, fitness parks and outdoor equipment became much more mainstream, providing an excellent alternative to indoor gyms. Now, with today’s advancements in design and technology, outdoor fitness areas have even become some people’s first choice when looking for a place to exercise!
Three Advancements in Outdoor Fitness Solutions
1. Stations and Exercise Options for All Ages (and Skill Levels)
Gone are the days of a single pull-up bar that only a fraction of park visitors can reach or effectively use. Modern outdoor fitness spaces offer a variety of outdoor fitness solutions designed to engage and benefit people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels. With innovative designs and a focus on inclusivity, today’s equipment provides versatile workout options that make fitness not only effective but fun!
Some popular outdoor systems include:
- Outdoor Exercise Equipment: Multi-gym setups, such as Outdoor-Fit Exercise Systems, provide a full-body workout for up to five users at a time (perfect for fun group workouts), and users can strengthen different muscle groups in a compact, weatherproof machine. Paris Site Furnishings and Outdoor Fitness is another great option, with more than 35 machines to choose from that are durable and built to last.
- Fitness Circuits: Featuring multiple stations designed for cardiovascular exercise and strength training, fitness circuit users move through the various exercises for a complete workout from warm-up to cooldown.
- Calisthenics Racks: Calisthenics are suitable for both beginners and more experienced athletes, utilizing the user’s body weight to strengthen muscles through a variety of exercises based on their particular needs and skill level.
- Obstacle Courses: Appropriate for all fitness levels, obstacle courses invite users to explore new movements and push their physical limits. These courses offer an enjoyable and challenging experience that target different areas of the body to promote coordination, strength and endurance.
2. Safety First
When creating an outdoor fitness space, safety is a top priority. Not only is the equipment you choose important but so is the surfacing beneath the equipment. Proper safety surfacing prevents injuries with an extra layer of protection for impact absorption. Factors like material durability, weather resistance and maintenance must be carefully evaluated when choosing a surface for an outdoor fitness space. Poured-in-place rubber or safety tiles are just a few of the many options available for outdoor fitness solutions.
3. Equipment Optimized for Any Footprint
Limited space is also no longer an issue with multi-station setups. Even pocket-sized parks can add an outdoor fitness area without sacrificing yardage. With today’s innovative designs, these compact setups offer more than 25 exercises for a comprehensive workout. Multiple users can perform strength and cardio exercises simultaneously, making it ideal for smaller parks or shared spaces. Plus, the compact nature of these fitness stations means they can be strategically placed alongside trails or pathways so visitors can combine running or biking with strength training for a perfectly balanced workout!
Bringing Outdoor Fitness to Your Community
Outdoor fitness areas are a great accessible option for communities of all sizes looking to encourage their residents to practice healthy habits and enjoy the outdoors. What once consisted of simple running tracks and hard, metal structures has transformed into the dynamic spaces we recognize today, with equipment suitable for all ages and abilities. From multi-station systems and calisthenics racks to obstacle courses and more, outdoor fitness stations provide opportunities for physical wellness, social interaction and promote a sense of community.
Interested in learning more about what an outdoor fitness area can do for your neighborhood? Our All Inclusive Rec representatives are ready to answer your questions and will work with you to design a customized solution for your unique space and requirements. Contact us to tell us more about your project and get ready to experience the benefits of an outdoor fitness area today!