Tom Willock talks about the benefits of outdoor exercise for people of all abilities and about the outdoor fitness machines his company installs.
Exercise is beneficial in so many ways for our physical and mental well-being. Outdoor gyms are easy to use and offer exercise opportunities for all ages and abilities. We have installed over 2,500 gyms in the UK, with over 1,000 into schools, as well as in many parks and open spaces which are free to use. The interest in our solutions to help children with special educational needs has grown by more than 20% over the last couple of years. We have installed equipment into all types of schools and Post 16 educational establishments.
The benefits of outdoor exercise material
Of course, outdoor activities can also just be done without any equipment. However, exercise equipment can often add to the range of activities that can be done during a lesson. In terms of schools’ usage, there are several areas where the equipment can be very beneficial.
During PE lessons
Outdoor fitness equipment can be used as part of a PE lesson. My company provides free lesson plans, and there is also a lot of other free online material. As one organisation commented when considering an outdoor gym , “It needed to provide a space for them to release energy, help some children to manage themselves emotionally and to provide suitable PE classes that would improve fitness.” For children who may have trouble following more complex instructions, exercise machines are also an easier way to join in on a PE lesson.
Releasing energy
Exercise equipment can also be used autonomously by pupils. Especially at the beginning of the day, exercise can help release energy and balance emotions before the start of the school day. Pupils can also use the exercise machines during the course of the school day as a way to regulate emotions or simply for some time away from the classroom. One school commented; “The outdoor gym has helped the children to get more exercise, more fresh air and to refocus attention ready for learning.” The equipment is also used as an intervention to deal with behavioural incidents with individual pupils in terms of helping the pupil return to a balanced emotional state. “Using the equipment alone provides a place for pupils to spend some time to regain composure and motivation for learning”
Types of equipment
It depends on the staff, the environment and the budget which exercise machines are best suited to a school. In terms of the equipment itself, we have found that a broad range of both strength and cardio equipment has been most popular. Both types of equipment get the heart pumping! In some cases where this is needed, the gyms are made more inclusive by including pieces that are suitable for wheelchair users.
As well as a mix of equipment types, we also find that a mix of double and single user pieces work well. Double pieces can help social skills, whilst a single user piece is an option for children who prefer to exercise alone.
Age range
In many cases, we are looking to provide for age groups from 5-18 years of age. When the gym needs to cover this whole age range, we provide equipment sized specifically for younger children in addition to a separate range for older children and adults. On some occasions, the equipment will be aimed at older children. This often means that adult gym equipment is more appropriate, since this caters for users greater than 1.4 metres in height.
Other locations
Outdoor gym equipment is not just limited to education environments. There are many outdoor gyms installed into parks and outdoor spaces accessible to the public. They are free and easy to use and in terms of finding a local outdoor gym, most suppliers provide some details of their installations on their website. You could also look on your local website, or even on an online map!
There is strong scientific evidence that being physically active can help you lead a healthier and happier life. Based on the feedback that we have received from our customers, outdoor gyms are a great way of enhancing physical activity opportunities for people of all abilities, whether this be in educational environments or within the community.
Tom Willock
Tom Willock is the Managing Director for Fresh Air Fitness.
Website: freshairfitness.co.uk
X: @FA_Fitness
LinkedIn: fresh-air-fitness
