How to Design the Ultimate Outdoor Fitness Space
Outdoor fitness areas are here to stay. During the pandemic, more and more people began seeking outdoor venues for their favorite activities — including working out. Today, outdoor amenities are still in high demand. If you’re thinking about installing an outdoor fitness center to complement your school, business, organization, or multifamily property, you’ve chosen a great time.
Not sure how to go about designing and installing an outdoor fitness space? We’ve got your back. Here’s what you need to keep in mind when it comes to crafting the ultimate outdoor fitness space.
Image and functional fitness products provided by our partners at Escape Fitness
Choose the Best Location for Your Plans
Designing a great outdoor fitness space goes beyond taking some equipment and transferring it outside. You should select an area that suits your needs.
For example, if you’re going to focus on group fitness like yoga and pilates classes, you’ll want terrain that’s flat and shaded. On the other hand, if you’re interested in designing a fitness track, it will be advantageous to have varying levels to provide an extra challenge to users.
Ideally, you should choose a wide, open space with plenty of room for activities and outdoor fitness equipment.
When it comes to actually designing the space, install weatherproof turf and flooring like the ones we offer from Ecore. This way, you’re providing users with a clean, stable area to get their workouts done and they won’t have to worry about the softness of any grass impacting their movements. Plus, having quality, weatherproof materials means less maintenance and safer floors for users.
Effortlessly Flow From Indoor to Outdoor
If your property already has an indoor fitness space, and would like to add an outdoor option, see if you can add retractable doors to allow users a chance to bring their workouts outside.
This way, if the climate where you live isn’t ideal for year-round outdoor activities, you can at least offer users an option for getting some sun without limiting availability. Additionally, there is a wide variety of fitness equipment that can be used both outdoors and indoors — and is lightweight enough to transport back and forth.
For example, we highly recommend using functional fitness equipment from Escape. Tools like Corebags, Sandbags, Kettlebells, Yoga Mats, TIYRs, and Plyoboxes give users the freedom (and fun!) to customize their workouts outside. Additionally, Assault Fitness offers portable machines for HIIT and cardio workouts: we love their AssaultBike Elite, AssaultRunner Elite, and AssaultRower Elite products. Not only are these machines easy to move with built-in wheels, they’re also self powered — so no chords or outlets needed!
Escape Functional Fitness Tools
Assault Fitness Self-Powered Cardio
Include Plenty of Versatile Equipment and Machines
Not every piece of fitness equipment can be brought outdoors. That’s why it’s important to consider the kind of equipment you’re sourcing for your new space, and whether or not it will be functional and usable outside.
For example, we’re big fans our Escape Fitness Functional Frames. They can be customized for outdoor usage, with an added protective finish that makes them weatherproof! Durable and versatile, these frames provide a platform for functional, weighted, and suspension workouts.
Image and functional fitness products provided by our partners at Escape Fitness
Not Enough Outdoor Space? Try These Hacks Instead
Depending on where you live or where your property is located, outdoor space might just not be available. In this case, bring the outside inside! Use these design hacks to create an indoor space that reminds people of the outdoors:
Biophilic accent walls
Green Turf
Natural lighting from large windows or skylights
Wood accents
Water features
The Piazza, Philadelphia
If outdoor space is available, but unusable during the winter or summer, then you can offer seasonal outdoor, instructor-led classes. Think yoga by the pool on Saturday mornings.
Image and functional fitness products provided by our partners at Escape Fitness
Another great option, if possible, is to take advantage of any rooftop space. We’ve seen some amazing rooftop fitness areas, and this is an ideal spot for group activities. Consider setting up a yoga garden or a place with athletic flooring and functional fitness tools available.
Work With a Trusted Partner
Finally, the best way to ensure you design an awesome, functional, and versatile outdoor fitness space is to partner with a provider who knows what they’re doing. At ASF, we work with our clients from start to finish. Beginning with brainstorming and design, we plan out every detail for our clients, provide outdoor-ready products, and manage installation to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.
Thinking of adding an outdoor fitness space to your property? Reach out to us today for more information.