An outdoor gym is a gym built outside in a public park, with the all-weather construction of its exercise machines somewhat modeled on playground equipment. It is similar to the 1960s–1970s proliferation of fitness trails, which continue to be created particularly in the US and Europe. In some instances, trails used for fitness are referred to as outdoor gyms.[1]
Types of outdoor gym equipment
editTypes of outdoor gym equipment may vary according to the nature of parks, locality and the visitors. There is no fixed list as which can include all of the machines or fixtures used in different parts of the world for outdoor recreation. These fixtures or machines can also be categorized into strength training and simple fitness or resistance training. Some basic outdoor exercising installations used commonly all over the world are pullup bars, balancing beams, parallel dip bars, etc.[2]
By country
editAustralia
editOutdoor gyms have become increasingly common in the Australia, where they are usually installed in public parks and at beaches.
China
editOutdoor gyms have been used in China as a national fitness campaign prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics.[3] The government has rolled out over 20,000,000 square metres (220,000,000 sq ft) of outdoor gymnasiums across China[3] Currently a third of the sports lottery is dedicated to funding this concept.[citation needed] In China they have a similar survey to the Active People Survey. The participation levels in physical activity have been steadily on the increase since the outdoor gym concept has been introduced to China.[citation needed].
India
editOutdoor gyms are starting to trend in New Delhi, India, where traditional gyms have had low popularity. In 2012 the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) installed 40 sets around the area, surrounding municipalities have followed suit.
United Kingdom
editOutdoor gyms have become increasingly common in the United Kingdom, where they are usually installed in public parks and school playgrounds.[4][5] There have been over 400 such spaces installed in the United Kingdom since 2007 by one of the main providers of these spaces.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Randall, Laura (2008). Day and Overnight Hikes: Palm Springs Menasha Ridge Press, ISBN 978-0897329811. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
- ^ "Best Exercising Machines to Look For in the Playground – BDL Fitness".
- ^ a b Olympic passion turns into "exercise fervor" in China Chinese Embassy in the U.S., 29 August 2008 Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
- ^ "The rise of the adult playground". BBC News. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
- ^ "Top 5 Outdoor Gym Equipment Items that Every School Should Have". Creative Play. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
- ^ Pike, Will (17 July 2014). "Outdoor gyms: a how-to guide". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 February 2024.