Residential Estate Industry Journal 5 | Page 24

GYM AFRICA Back in the day the easiest solution to the stress of office politics, work deadlines and related issues was to pop into your GP’s surgery and get a script for ‘a little something to get you through the day’. Thankfully we now have a more holistic approach to dealing with health issues – diet and exercise. Diet options range from the extreme Banting route to the more tried-and-tested, eat-less ‘balanced diet’. Exercise used to rely on our pounding the streets in our running shoes or slogging it out at the nearest gym. But things have changed, and thanks to companies like Gym Africa, outdoor gyms are now the rage, and exercising in the fresh air has become the activity of choice. And where better to have access to an outdoor gym than at your own residential estate! Benefits of outdoor gyms Estates generally have outdoor space allocated to recreation and fitness, ranging from playgrounds and tennis courts to paved pathways or trails for walking and running. Residents often vary in age and fitness requirements, so it’s not a case of ‘one size fits all’ when satisfying exercise and fitness needs. To help meet these varied requirements, the team at Gym Africa supplies a range of quality outdoor gym, fitness and recreational equipment suitable and effective for general mobility and fitness for all ages, including children.Besides the obvious benefit of increased fitness, exercising outdoors has been shown to reduce anger and depression and improve your mood – the fresh air and increased oxygen consumption cause the body to produce more serotonin, the ‘feel-good’ chemical, meaning stress leve ls come down and happiness goes up. In addition to this, sunshine is the primary source of vitamin D. When our skin is exposed to sunlight we produce vitamin D3, which increases endorphin production, improves our immune system and helps us to sleep better. One of the greatest benefits, however, is the opportunity to connect with nature. Exercising outdoors helps us 24