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Fitness advice dispensed at outdoor gyms

Fitness experts will help residents of all ages to muscle up properly at 10 outdoor gyms throughout Red Deer.
C01-Gyms
Primary Care Network health coach Jeff Kopp works with Margret Smith

Fitness experts will help residents of all ages to muscle up properly at 10 outdoor gyms throughout Red Deer.

Every Tuesday until June 28, health basics coaches from Red Deer Primary Care Network will be on hand to show people how to get the best use out of the 12 machines.

Wearing shorts, a T-shirt and sunglasses, coach Jeff Kopp headed to the one on Jennings Crescent in Johnstone Crossing, where he advised two frequent users, Margret Smith and Janet Church, on Tuesday.

Kopp hopes he can help remove that “fear factor” that some may feel about using the outdoor equipment.

“We are here to break down that barrier and show how easy they are to use,” he said.

Users can perform exercises from chest presses and pull-ups to sit-ups and stationary walking.

Each of the “double fitness” machines moves on joints and hinges so it is easy to maintain and use.

Some work against someone’s body weight.

People work too fast on the machines — that’s the common mistake, Kopp added.

Kopp said that Red Deer has the most outdoor gyms per capita in province.

Four were installed and funded initially in 2009, through the primary care network, which is a partnership between 66 family doctors and Alberta Health Services.

It began funding and installing the gyms in public parks in 2009. The City of Red Deer provides the land and maintains the equipment.

“They’re great,” said Smith. “We saw them the first time in Kamloops years and years ago and now that they’re here . . . I think my husband wrote the city to ask for more.”

Church and Kopp said they try to use the outdoor gyms several times a week, depending on the weather.

“I think it’s a really good idea that the coaches are coming out here because you get the benefit of (doing it properly) . . . of how to do the breathing,” said Church.

Coaches will rotate throughout each of the gyms from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Plans are to hold evening sessions on Tuesdays in July so that they’re available to the after-5 p.m. crowd.

For more information on schedules, go online at www.reddeerpcn.com.

ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com