Physical exercise is essential to keep the body healthy. There have been many studies to show this. Inactivity contributes to various health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, cancers, insulin resistance, and low bone density.
Although cardio activity is good, whole-body fitness should be the goal we all aim to stay healthy.
To gym or not to gym
That may well be the question. If you are an adult and are looking at how to motivate yourself to get out there and build strength, get fit, they may well be a myriad of gyms in your locality looking for your business. If you are a parent, though, you won’t be able to take your children and so may be faced with childcare issues and a lack of time to attend your gym regularly.
Many city planners in countries worldwide are now adding adult exercise equipment alongside children’s areas. This gives parents an excellent opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Take the children to the park and do a bit of exercise yourself.
These accessible adult gym locations are a place for young and old to go to keep fit and healthy for those without children.
Playground equipment
The following are the best equipment found in most outdoor city-provided gym areas:
Monkey bars – These are very versatile, where ladder-type bars are held up in a horizontal plane. The bars are spaced evenly and allow you to grab and swing across, causing each arm to hold your weight as you let go of the other arm to reach the next bar. This targets upper body strength and shoulders.
Bench – This may not be a prominent piece of equipment and may not appear to be part of the equipment in the outdoor gym. However, a park bench allows for pushups, tricep dips, and even support for your ankles in sit-ups.
Parallel bars – These bars, as the name suggests, sit horizontal and equidistant from each other. Support yourself with stretched arms or bent at the elbow; your weight is then used to build your strength.
Rock walls – Often considered a more “fun” piece of equipment, they focus on the upper-body workout. Often with children and adult-sized versions, it is fun for everyone.
Vertical ladders – Again, this piece of kit describes itself and focuses on your upper body and core. Climb a ladder up and down a few times, and your arms and legs will pull your weight up as you climb and descend. L sits allow you to use your stomach muscles to lift your legs out straight, holding your weight by your arms.
Whether you go alone as an adult or as a parent with your children, these playground fitness locations allow a free workout for us all. Keeping fit leads to good health, and being able to do that for free gives no excuse that we should all get out there and have a go.
Austin Stanfel 