Getting a good workout in Burnaby is now as easy as a walk in the park.
There's a new outdoor gym in the city so local residents can exercise in the fresh air and enjoy a full workout.
The City of Burnaby has installed 12 fitness stations along the Trail of Hope, a 2.5 kilometer circuit in Central Park, in hopes local residents will get outdoors and be more active.
"People can come at their leisure, use the machinery at their own pace, and it's free," said Dave Ellenwood, parks director for the City of Burnaby. "This is really the most modern equipment."
The equipment focuses on balance, stretching, strength, cardio and flexibility. The stations include an elliptical, a chin-up bar, a leg press and chest press, to name a few.
"They can do it at their own pace. It's exactly what we want in parks and recreation, where they don't have to engage in structured activity," Ellenwood said. "It gets people out and moving."
To make sure people are using the stations properly, each piece has a yellow sticker with a QR code, and people with a QR code app in their smartphones can scan the code to see a Youtube video of a professional instructor demonstrating how to use the equipment. There are even holders for cell phones, so users can watch hands-free.
The circuit is already becoming popular with parkgoers, and Ellenwood mentioned there have been people lining up to use the equipment.
Each station also sits on a rubber circle made of ground tires, donated by Tire Stewardship B.C. and Kal Tire.
There are maps of the circuit with illustrations of each piece of equipment, available at local rec centres and libraries, or download one online. (The instructional videos are also available on the city's website.)
The best place to start is close to Swangard Stadium, where Station 1 is located, south of the parking lot on Kingsway.
The equipment was actually installed last November, but the city held an official launch over the past weekend.
Exercise tips:
- A regular workout can help with strength, stress management, energy levels, relaxation, posture, anxiety, depression, mental clarity, concentration, strengthened immunity, weight loss, longevity, sounder sleep, confidence and sexual drive.
- Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
- Check with your doctor before starting an exercise routine.
