DOCSLIB.ORG

Module 20: Outdoor Fitness

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Module 20: Outdoor Fitness Module 20: Outdoor Fitness In this module you will learn: The benefits of working outdoors Some examples of outdoor activities Examples of warm-up activities How to use the outdoors to enhance your workout 20.1 Introduction You don’t have to confine yourself into rooms with little or no view, breathing in air circulated within the building, day in and day out. As a fitness instructor, you could get out of the buildings and work with your clients outdoors, breathing in the fresh air, working out in natural sunlight with nature all around you. There are plenty of people who prefer to be outdoors while sweating it out, rather than being within four walls. Get your clients to make the most of their exercise routine by encouraging them to work out in the open, in a park or other such natural surroundings. 20.2 Benefits of Working Outdoors Growing research has shown us the deep effect that fresh air, trees, plants, and the outdoors have upon our overall health and well-being. Exercising in a natural environment is one excellent thing that you can do for your health: Your level of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate one’s mood, rises in the outdoors and enhances mood. Regular outdoor runners are less anxious or depressed than those who run indoors on a treadmill, and outdoor runners also have improved levels of post-exercise endorphins, the feel-good brain chemical associated with runner’s high. Being exposed to nature aids the reduction of pain and illness while accelerating recovery time. Post-operative patients who had a room with a view outdoors, need less pain medication and spend fewer days in a hospital than others who look at a concrete wall. When you exercise outdoors, your lungs benefit hugely. Training as an Athlete If you have a client who is an athlete, and training seriously, you should encourage them to train outdoors. Athletic training requires a disciplined and rigorous mental and physical preparation. If one is serious about sports and fitness, then it is necessary to incorporate strength, multi- directional drills, as well as kinesthetic awareness training; this means, that one has to get off the machines and get outside. 20.3 The Great Outdoor Gym Although awareness must be present for the slick grass, rocks, unstable ground, and loose gravel or pebbles; these challenges of reading the environment and the elements add mental and physical stimulation, which simply cannot be replicated indoors or by machines. Exercising anywhere is a positive act. Exercising everywhere is preferable, from the circuits at a club, to the diversity and expanse of outdoor fitness adventures — give the mind and body the best of both experiences and you will begin to cover all kinds of new fitness ground. FACT Nearly 143 million Americans, or 49.2 percent of the US population, participated in an outdoor activity at least once in 2013. Source: www.outdoorfoundation.org 20.4 Body Mind Connection Outdoors is refreshing to the mind. The mind is the coach, guide, inspiration, and all the negatives equally. Recharging one’s mind means automatically the body follows. Feeling more alive means feeling more conscious, and the mind- body is powered completely by consciousness. Therefore, going outdoors brings one closer to one’s natural state more rapidly. This experience of alertness motivates us and it includes the elements of fun and play, themselves rejuvenating stimuli. Working outdoors using a type of training that teaches the mind and the muscles to work together in a team, is known as the development of one’s kinesthetic awareness. The body learns to react to transformations in the environment, more automatically if you allow it, and listen to it; paying attention to where your feet are treading and what your hands are touching keeps your mind sharp and your body balanced. This helps you to negotiate wet roots or unstable ground, and will help you adapt to all-weather events or conditions. The mind therefore, via your computing brain, needs an outdoor workout as well. 20.5 Cross Training Experts have, for a long time, recommended that cross-training (practicing different active pursuits or skills) is one of the best solutions for the challenges of boredom, overuse injuries and plateauing. Moving between outdoor and indoor exercise environments is a particularly great way of diversifying a program, while also building into it some varieties of environment. Outdoor exercising involves greater levels of weight-bearing activities, which improves one’s bone density by stimulating better bone development. If one runs outdoors; perhaps come inside for a yoga session. If you are lifting weights inside; go outside for a hike or a run. Performing an array of outdoor and indoor activities offers more fitness options, while also creating better fitness results. Most exercise activities will eventuate in a unique set of muscular imbalances. This is because they demand a repetitive motion. Distance cyclists will tend to manifest knee, upper and lower back problems. A diversified plan which also includes weight training and yoga, will minimize that risk, while also enhancing performance and longevity in that sport. 20.6 The Warm Up When warming up, take the opportunity to focus on activating your different muscles which you will be using during the outdoor workout. Hip Raise – Lie on your back, with the knees bent and the feet flat on the ground. Raise the hips and take them as high as possible, squeeze your hip muscles as you lift your hips. Lower and repeat the action for as many rounds as possible in about 30 seconds. Keep the knees about 6 inches apart while doing the exercise. Walking Thrust with Reach – Step ahead with one foot and thrust down, press the hips forward and reach the opposite arm over the head simultaneously, to activate the hip flexors. Repeat this for 30 seconds alternating the legs. Plank Hold – Lie flat on the stomach, rise up on your toes and forearms to assume a straight ‘plank’ position. Hold the position for about a minute before returning back on to your stomach. Opposing Leg Balanced Toe Touches – Stand in a comfortable position, raise one leg up in a horizontal pose behind the body, and simultaneously bend forward and reach for the other toe with the hand. Return to the standing position and repeat with the other leg. Example of Outdoor Activities There are several activities that can be done outdoors easily with minimum equipment. Here is a sample activity. Step 1: Jogging to the location or the local park, at a pace that is suitable for your fitness level. 10 minutes. Step 2: Dips: Sit on a bench and put your hands on either side of your rear, with the palms facing down. Raise your hips off the bench, bend the arms at the elbows and lower your rear towards the ground and return. You need to keep the elbows in and going straight backwards, and also keep your rear close to the bench. Repeat for 10 to 15 rounds. Step-up: Face the bench, place the right foot on the bench seat surface. Ensure the entire foot, including the heel, is placed squarely onto the bench. Then step up and down 10 to 15 times. Then repeat with the left foot on the bench. Incline push-up: This is a good way to do push-ups without a mat. Assume the push-up position with the hands on a bench seat and the feet or knees (according to your preferable push-up style) on the ground. Perform 10 to 15 rounds. Step 3: Breaking up the exercise workout into several intervals of cardio and strength training will keep you attentive. Step 4: Row: Secure a resistance band around a tree or a sturdy lamp-pole. Stand while holding both ends of the resistance band in each hand. Raise the arms to your shoulder height, pull the elbows backwards and then squeeze the shoulder blades together. Repeating 10 to 15 times. Bicep curl: Stand on the center of the resistance band, hold the two ends of the band in each hand. Keep the elbows tucked into your waist, bend the elbows so that the hands come up to the shoulders. Keep the upper arm (from the shoulder to the elbow) still during the exercise. Repeat 10 to 15 rounds. Squats: Stand with the feet parallel and shoulder-width apart. Push your hips backwards as if about to sit down on a chair, then squeeze the buttocks and engage your abdominals as you return to a standing posture. Ensure you keep the back nice and flat. Step 5: Start out at a regular jog pace. Slow to a light jog and then a walk when you are a few minutes from home. 20.7 Using the Outdoors to Enhance Your Workout Don’t let the lack of equipment be an excuse to avoid working out outdoors. If you are creative or innovative, you will use the features available to you to design and execute great exercise plans which can include a complete workout, including warm up, stretches, cardiovascular, strength training, and cool down. Here are some ideas to get you going: Slopes Work out your cardiovascular system by running up and down a slope or a hill. Sprint up that hill and be sure to time it. Whatever time you take to reach the top allow yourself triple that to return back to your starting position and rest before heading up again. Lunge walk uphill, then jog back down and repeat until the legs are shaking with workout exertion.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Exercise Training with Fitness Zone Equipment in Sedentary Hispanic Women: a Pilot Study
    Nguyen, C.H., Raney, M.A. / Californian Journal of Health Promotion 2014, Volume 12, Issue 1, 83-87. Exercise Training with Fitness Zone Equipment in Sedentary Hispanic Women: A Pilot Study Caroline H. Nguyen and Marcella A. Raney Department of Kinesiology, Occidental College Abstract Background and Purpose: Limited access to physical activity resources contributes to elevated prevalence of obesity in Hispanic women living in low-income urban Los Angeles neighborhoods. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the benefits of training with fitness zone equipment recently made available in public parks. Methods: Six overweight, sedentary Hispanic women completed a 6-week combined resistance and cardiorespiratory training program. General health, muscular fitness (repetitions-to-fatigue), and cardiorespiratory fitness (one-mile walk), were assessed pre- and post-training. Results: Training significantly decreased weight (- 3.5±0.5 lbs.), body fat percentage (-2.1±0.9%), waist circumference (-1.3±0.2 cm), and increased muscular endurance repetitions (squats: 23.4±8.2, push-ups: 12.8±1.8, curl-ups: 13.0±3.3, leg presses: 62.7±15.5, right leg extensions: 18.2±5.6, left leg extensions: 18.5±5.6, chest presses: 20.8±5.4, lateral pull downs: 15.8±3.8, and vertical presses: 5.6±1.2 reps); p < 0.05. No change in VO2max was detected; p > 0.05. Conclusion: Fitness zone training, for which equipment is freely available at parks, may lead to health and fitness benefits for sedentary women in the initial stages of a weight loss program. Additional muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and associated health benefits are limited due to the mechanical design and nonadjustable nature of the outdoor equipment.
    [Show full text]
  • OUTDOOR ADULT FITNESS PARKSTM Center for Professional Development
    RESEARCH PROGRAMS EDUCATION ADV OCACY OUTDOOR ADULT FITNESS PARKSTM Center for Professional Development Outdoor Adult Fitness ParksTM outdoor ADULT Fitness parks TM Best Practice Guidelines Best practices for promoting community health by increasing physical activity Best Practices for Promoting Community Health by Increasing Physical Activity The purpose of the Outdoor Adult Fitness Parks Comprehensive program includes: guidebook is to inspire communities to advocate for ► 62 page educational/design resource: and utilize Outdoor Adult Fitness Parks as critical health - History and benefits of outdoor fitness parks solutions for increasing physical activity and social - Aligning equipment to total body fitness engagement. PlayCore, along with a variety of industry - Planning context and locations professionals, fitness experts, organizational advocates, - Targeting and marketing to user groups and local champions across a variety of communities, - Implementation and sustainability offers an educational and design resource to help promote - Programming to expand utilization community health and capital through innovative fitness - Evaluating and reporting outcomes solutions. - Best practice case study examples ► Fitness.playcore.com, a dedicated website with Partnership Advisory Network: benefits, exercises, a full database of Outdoor Adult Fitness Parks, and more ► Professional development training module ► The Outdoor Adult Fitness Parks National Demonstration Site program, national recognition and press exposure for sites that follow
    [Show full text]
  • You Were Meant to ​Thrive​™
    YOU WERE MEANT TO ​THRIVE​™ Innovating Outdoor Fitness Solutions that Break Down Barriers to Community Wellness The Priority recently reported the ​average cost of a gym membership is $800-$900 per year​. With the steady and dramatic rise in adult With 45 million Americans living below the obesity, promoting regular physical activity poverty line, and nearly half of American is a public health priority. Six out of ten families considered “poor or low-income,” American adults are considered health clubs are out of reach for a large overweight or obese. According to the U.S. segment of the U.S. population​. Department of Health and Human Services, only ​30% of adult Americans report they get regular physical activity during leisure time. 40% of Americans say they get none at all. Health clubs provide a high-quality experience for adults who want to improve their health and wellness, but this is not an Health club fitness classes are popular but often option for every adult. The New York Times financially out-of-reach for many adult Americans. You Were Meant to THRIVE ©2018, GameTime, A PlayCore Company ​ 2 The Research Outdoor fitness areas provided by community parks remove a financial A market intelligence report by barrier to regular exercise​. Free to access, Leisure-Net Solutions’ Outdoor Fitness and often installed in underserved Classes Report - “Is it Better Outside?” neighborhoods, they are an essential part shows that, overall, ​44% of respondents of a regular exercise regimen for many stated they would prefer to exercise Americans. outdoors ​compared to 38% opting for indoors.
    [Show full text]
  • Triactive Outdoor Fitness
    What’s New! • Safer Equipment Updates • New Wheelchair Accessible Designs QR Code for Smart Phone Jessie Hilegenberg, Fitness Trainer & Author, trying out our Squat Press with it’s superior range of motion. Photo courtesy of Eric Knape and BodyBuilding.com TriActive America Lines of Equipment M x & M tch M du e P ge 0 ns l o - P ge 22 T iA iv F tne Lin P g 3 • Over 30 products available. • Best value Pakge Pg 2 S f ty P ge 22 E L ne Pag 12 • Electro-coated for superior rust protection • Custom colors available • Perfect for harsh weather conditions and coastal locations. ow o Buy - P ge 23 Cont c i ec y WHEELCHAIRW AI ACCESSIBLEACC LE EQUIPMENTU ME Wh lc air Ac e ib e Pa 7 • Developed with a fitness-for-all philosophy. Amy Venturini - Sales Associate • Designed for wheelchair or physically challenged users. TriActive America Inc Why Buy riA tive America? 178 South 4th Street, Suite 101 Grover Beach, CA 93433 • We founded the dynamic outdoor fitness equipment industry in North America. • Our equipment is very durable and stands up in extreme environments. Toll Free: 800-587-4228 • Made in the USA, Michigan and California. Local Telephone: 805-595-1005 • We pride ourselves in superior customer service. Fax: 805-595-1007 • Our equipment is designed for competitive shipping and installation cost. Email: [email protected] Page 2 TriActive America Inc. 178 South 4th Street, Suite 101 Grover Beach, CA 93433 www.TriActiveAmerica.com he TriActive Fitness Equipment line features over 30 individual Tpieces that allow greater flexibility in budget planning, fitness routines and site layout development.
    [Show full text]
  • Move to Be Well: the Global Economy of Physical Activity
    Move to be Well: Mindful Movement The Global Economy of Equipment & Supplies Physical Activity Technology Fitness Sports & Active Apparel & Recreation Footwear OCTOBER 2019 Move to be Well: The Global Economy of Physical Activity OCTOBER 2019 Copyright © 2019 by the Global Wellness Institute Quotation of, citation from, and reference to any of the data, findings, and research methodology from this report must be credited to “Global Wellness Institute, Move to be Well: The Global Economy of Physical Activity, October 2019.” For more information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.globalwellnessinstitute.org. CONTENTS Executive Summary i Full Report 1 I. Physical Inactivity: A Rising Global Crisis 3 Physical activity is essential to health, and yet, collectively we have become 3 more inactive. How did we become so inactive? 4 Physical activity versus fitness: A privilege, a choice, or a right? 5 II. Understanding the Economy of Physical Activity 7 Defining physical activity 7 The evolution of recreational and leisure physical activity 9 The economy of physical activity 12 What does this study measure? 14 III. The Global Physical Activity Economy 21 Physical activity global market 21 Recreational physical activities 25 • Sports and active recreation 29 • Fitness 34 • Mindful movement 41 Enabling sectors 48 • Technology 49 • Equipment and supplies 55 • Apparel and footwear 56 Physical activity market projections 57 IV. Closing Physical Activity Gaps and Expanding Markets 61 Physical activity barriers and motivations 61 Business innovations and public initiatives to overcome barriers 63 • Mitigating time constraints and increasing convenience 63 • Making physical activity a daily habit 65 • Making physical activity fun and appealing 69 • Enabling movement in all physical conditions 73 • Embedding physical activity in the built environment 75 • Making physical activity affordable and accessible to everyone 76 V.
    [Show full text]
  • Umaineinmotion Finals 2016 Drop-In Group Exercise Class Schedule Fall Finals 2016 Drop-In Group Exercise: 12/12-12/16
    #UMaineInMotion Finals 2016 Drop-In Group Exercise Class Schedule Fall Finals 2016 Drop-In Group Exercise: 12/12-12/16 (P) Pool - (FR) Foster Room - (MP1) Multi-Purpose Room - (W) Wallace Pool - (T) Track - (TC) Tennis Court Monday 12/12 Tuesday 12/13 Wednesday 12/14 Thursday 12/15 Friday 12/16 Yin Yoga Aqua HIIT It + Core (FR) Outdoor Fitness Yin Yoga Aqua (FR) Burn (P) Yoga (TC) (FR) Burn (P) Morning 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. 6:00 a.m. Olivia 6:00 a.m. 6:00 a.m. 6:00 a.m. Jess H Roxane Jess H Jess H Roxane HIIT It (FR) HIIT It (FR) Pilates (FR) Gentle Yoga (FR) (30 min) (30 min) 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. - Midday 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. Nora Nora Jared Jared - Body Rock Boot Zumba® (FR) Camp (FR) - - - 4:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Sue Cait TRX Triple Threat Barbell Blast (FR) Barbell Blast (FR) (T) 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Jess K Jess K Sam - TGIF Yoga (FR) (80 min) Evening Cycle X (MP1) Power Hour (FR) Cycle X (MP1) 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Carol Carol Hannah Carol Zumba® (FR) - 7:00 p.m. Dustin Stretched Out (MP1) Mindful Yoga (FR) 6:30 p.m. Yin Yoga (FR) Color Legend & Important Information (90 min) Carol 8:00 p.m. Classes in blue-shaded boxes are FREE classes.
    [Show full text]
  • Outdoor Fitness Equipment Usage Behaviors in Natural Settings
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Article Outdoor Fitness Equipment Usage Behaviors in Natural Settings Hsueh-wen Chow * and Dai-Rong Wu Graduate Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +886-62757575 (ext. 81806) Received: 8 November 2018; Accepted: 25 January 2019; Published: 30 January 2019 Abstract: Outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) areas have become a popular form of built environment infrastructure in public open spaces as a means to improve public health through increased physical activity. However, the benefits of using OFE are not consistent, and several OFE accidents have been reported. In this study, we videotaped how OFE users operate OFE in parks and selected four types of popular OFE (the waist twister, air walker, ski machine, and waist/back massager) for video content analysis. Furthermore, we established coding schemes and compared results with the instructions provided by OFE manufacturers. The results revealed various usage behaviors for the same OFE types. In addition, we observed that a significant portion of user behaviors did not follow manufacturers’ instructions, which might pose potential risks or actually cause injuries. Children are especially prone to act improperly. This study provides empirical evidence indicating the existence of potential safety risks due to inappropriate usage behaviors that might lead to accidents and injuries while using OFE. This study provides crucial information that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of OFE and to develop future park or open space initiatives. Keywords: fitness zone; outdoor gym; sports injury; park; built environment 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Award of Contract CAP2011 Outdoor Fitness Equipment and Surfacing Project June 13, 2018 the Honorable Mayor Fournier and Members
    Community Development Department Planning Division 211 South Williams Street Royal Oak, MI 48067 Award of Contract CAP2011 Outdoor Fitness Equipment and Surfacing Project June 13, 2018 The Honorable Mayor Fournier and Members of the City Commission: At its June 11, 2018 meeting, the city commission approved the program year 2018-2019 community development block grant (CDBG) program’s annual action plan which includes activities and funding levels. The city will utilize CDBG funds to design, purchase and install high quality, durable outdoor fitness equipment and improve existing playground equipment at Cody Park, Barton Park - north, Waterworks Park, and Grant Park. It should be noted that the city maintains a lease agreement with the School District of the City of Royal Oak for use of property associated with Grant Park. The lease agreement requires written permission from the district for additional improvements. It also expires in 2020. The superintendent of recreation has been communicating with representatives from the district regarding permission and an addendum to extend the length of the agreement. The city is proceeding with the purchase and installation of Kompan outdoor fitness equipment at each of the four parks. Kompan equipment is highly regarded, durable, and reliable in comparison to a host of other manufacturers of outdoor fitness equipment. Kompan is one of two approved suppliers of park and playground equipment that participates in the US Communities national cooperative purchasing program. The city is a participating member in US Communities. As a participating public agency, the city can benefit from existing, competitively solicited contracts between US Communities approved suppliers, such as Kompan, and US Communities lead public agencies.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact of Different Types of Physical Activity in Green Urban Space on Adult Health and Behaviors: a Systematic Review
    Review Impact of Different Types of Physical Activity in Green Urban Space on Adult Health and Behaviors: A Systematic Review Alessia Grigoletto 1, Mario Mauro 2 , Pasqualino Maietta Latessa 3 , Vincenzo Iannuzzi 4 , Davide Gori 1, Francesco Campa 3 , Gianpiero Greco 2,* and Stefania Toselli 1 1 Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; [email protected] (A.G.); [email protected] (D.G.); [email protected] (S.T.) 2 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Study of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy; [email protected] 3 Department of Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy; [email protected] (P.M.L.); [email protected] (F.C.) 4 Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: This systematic review aimed to investigate the type of physical activity carried out in green urban spaces by the adult population and to value its impact on the population’s health. Additionally, another purpose was to examine if the presence of outdoor gyms in green urban spaces can promote participation in physical activity among adults. Searches of electronic databases, with no time restrictions and up to June 2020, resulted in 10 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. A quantitative assessment is reported as effect size. Many people practiced walking activity as a workout, which showed improvements in health. Walking is the most popular type of training due to its easy accessibility and it not requiring equipment or special skills.
    [Show full text]
  • Fitness Cultures and Environmental (In) Justice?
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Brunel University Research Archive Fitness Cultures and Environmental (in) Justice? Louise Mansfield Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure Canterbury Christ Church University Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QU Tel: 01227 782678 Fax: 01227 863413 Email: [email protected] 0 Bibliographic Note Louise Mansfield is a senior lecturer in the sociology of sport at Canterbury Christ Church University. She has published on women, corporeality and fitness, feminist theories and methods for understanding gender, sport and leisure and media representation of female athletes. 1 Fitness Cultures and Environmental (in) Justice? Abstract This paper is a critical essay on the environmentalist agenda in fitness cultures. Involvement in outdoor military fitness regimes and a series of visits to activity holiday centres and health/fitness spas in the UK all of which make some claim to being ‘green’, ‘environmentally friendly’, and/or ‘natural’ provided the empirical context for the discussion in this paper. The essay is tentative and limited to an analysis of the key principles of political ecology and environmentalism and the concept of sustainability in understanding the emergence of an environmentalist agenda in fitness cultures marked by shades and grades of green consumerism. It argues for further research from the political ecological field, exploring human/non- human dynamics of the environment, to advance an understanding about which sports and fitness cultures get developed where, how and in whose interests. Key Words Fitness, Political Ecology, Ecologism, Environmentalism, Green Exercise, Green Consumerism 2 Sports people and sports cultures have been connected with resource depletion, reduction in air and water quality, land use degradation, habitat loss and species extinction.
    [Show full text]
  • Who Is Using Outdoor Fitness Equipment and How? the Case of Xihu Park
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Article Who Is Using Outdoor Fitness Equipment and How? The Case of Xihu Park Hsueh-wen Chow 1,*, Andrew J. Mowen 2 and Guan-lin Wu 1 1 Graduate Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; [email protected] 2 Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +886-6-275-7575 (ext. 81806) Academic Editor: Paul B. Tchounwou Received: 15 February 2017; Accepted: 18 April 2017; Published: 21 April 2017 Abstract: Outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) placed in public parks has the potential to encourage physical activity. However, little is known about OFE users and use patterns. This study employed onsite and video observations of OFE usage to describe user characteristics and patterns in Xihu Park. Results indicate that OFE in this park attracted considerable use, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon. During these peak-hour observations, approximately 12 users per hour used the OFE, with the majority being females and seniors. The triple arm stretch and air walker were the most popular stations. However, most OFE users interacted with less than three of the available six OFE stations. Furthermore, users spent an average of less than nine minutes on all OFE stations combined. While OFE equipment was well-used in this urban park, it appears users did not interact with OFE at rates to produce a sufficient bout or level of physical activity during their park visit.
    [Show full text]
  • Outdoor Fitness Equipment Specialists the Outdoor Gym Specialists
    Outdoor Fitness Equipment Specialists The Outdoor Gym Specialists Combi Pull Down Challenger & Power Push Double Sit Up Bench Schools are under increasingly more pressure to produce children with high grades but on top of that are expected to guide those children to a more healthy and active lifestyle. This seems like a daunting task but it does not need to be! The relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement has been studied in great detail and it is well established that those children who lead an active lifestyle are more likely to achieve academic success. 1 Sovereign Sovereign have been designing, manufacturing and installing play equipment for Local Authorities, Schools, Colleges, Universities, Mental Health Units and Prisons since being established in 1992. We continue to carry out top class installations of outdoor fitness equipment and provide, what we believe, is the best value for money outdoor fitness equipment available on the market today. We differ from many other companies by installing all our equipment ourselves and do not use sub-contractors. This ensures that you are talking to the people on site that are selling you the product and that all installations are correctly installed by professional operatives who are all Register of Play Inspectors International level 2 trained and NVQ Level III Engineers taking pride in their work. Every facility we have installed is still in use today and we pride ourselves on having a 100% RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) post installation pass rate and have been registered RoSPA members right from the start. We provide a full ‘Turn Key’ package from consultation to the finished project and following on a unique 1 year free spare parts supply* plus the first 4 quarterly inspections are included to ensure that your facility stays as good as the day it was installed.
    [Show full text]