INDUSTRY FOCUS uplifting your community one pull-up at a
INDUSTRY FOCUS uplifting your community one pull-up at a
time
Many of us earn our living with our bottoms firmly stuck to a chair , not to mention the hours we spend in a car seat getting to that chair .
An economy under pressure , increasing working hours and a never-ending to-do list have led to a steady rise in stress-related illnesses . At the same time society is moving closer to a more aware way of living , in which good nutrition , the outdoors and daily exercise are becoming priorities for big corporations – the Google way of office-life being a shining example . It is in this milieu that exercise facilities have become an integral part of the offerings in mixed-use and residential development environments .
It doesn ’ t seem to make much sense to exercise in a crowded , noisy , sweaty room when the glory of the South African landscape and weather await outside . With the upsurge in mixed-use development environments , where accessibility is the key financial factor , consumers are demanding that we take exercise outdoors so that we can enjoy these rewards of our working lives . And developers are answering their call .
Fitness features are no longer only a value-add amenity . Probably the most notable benefit of an outdoor gym system is the way it uses open space , doing away with the logistics of parking , rental , staff , management and overheads , Generally the space an outdoor gym occupies is underutilised in relation to the cost of its upkeep . All these factors impact directly on the property price – and , naturally , levies . Outdoor gyms not only add appeal by offering a more holistic lifestyle , but also enhance property prices thus , making the development more attractive to investors .
In 2008 Tim Hogins , founding CEO of Green Outdoor Gyms , noticed teenagers in his community doing pull-ups from trees and push-ups on the rocky ground . From humble township beginnings himself , he believed in the importance of fitness to the community and the need for wholesome communal areas . Tim worked on the simple theory that gyms don ’ t have to be indoors , and needn ’ t be governed by contracts and membership fees . Two years later he opened the first of his Green Outdoor Gyms ( GOG ) with the express purpose of taking fitness to the masses , including those who couldn ’ t afford conventional gym membership .