Council to deliver free adult taster sessions at outdoor gyms

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is encouraging adults across the borough to reinvigorate their fitness routine following the easing of lockdown restrictions by fully utilising outdoor gym equipment located at several popular outdoor recreation sites across the borough.

Next month, leisure staff will be running free taster sessions for small groups who are keen to learn about the range of fitness equipment available, how to use each piece of equipment properly along with how to get a full body workout in a short time by quickly moving through the different stations.

Advocating the increased use of outdoor gyms, Lord Mayor Councillor Kevin Savage said: “It’s great to see our outdoor gyms re-open to the public after being closed during lockdown. Hopefully these sessions will help raise the profile of our outdoor gyms and serve to remind local communities that they should take full advantage of these facilities if they are committed to get their exercise routine back on track.

Suitable for everyone from beginners to experienced gym-goers, our outdoor gyms are just as effective as indoor gyms in helping individuals to lose weight, increase stamina, build strength and keep fit as they offer same range of equipment such as cross-trainers, bikes, shoulder and leg presses and pull-up bars.

These sessions are another strand to our Get Active Outdoors Summer Programme and are further evidence of our unstinting efforts to get as many adults as possible back into exercising daily and achieving the recommended target of 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity each week.”

Two sessions – the first at 10am and the second at 11.30am – will be delivered at five venues, will each last one hour and cater for up to 8 people in line with government guidance.

They commence on Monday 10 August at Loughgall Country Park and will continue on Tuesday 11 August at Palace Demesne (Armagh), Wednesday 12 August at Solitude Park (Banbridge), Kinnego Marina (Craigavon) on Monday 17 August and Portadown People’s Park on Tuesday 18 August.

These sessions can be booked online at www.getactiveabc.com/outdoors