In the Media
2005-08-13, The Star Phoenix (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
Grown-ups Go Outside to Play.
Chris Zdeb; CanWest News Service
EDMONTON – Many adults haven’t been to a playground since their kids grew up or their butts got too big to go down the slide.
A “stability park” doesn’t require you to have kids to be able to visit, and there’s no confining equipment because it’s a playground for adults, says Andrea, a personal trainer at Defining Eve, who regularly takes her clients out to play on the large-sized equipment at an Edmonton elementary school.
Interestingly, it wasn’t built as a stability park or a playground for adults. It was actually a “ropes-challenge park,” similar to ones commonly found at summer camps. The equipment was installed in 1993 by Edmonton’s parks and recreation department, local community association and elementary schools to challenge the older students in Grades 5 and 6.
But Cindy Davies, who was community recreation coordinator at the time, is thrilled that someone has come along and found another use for it.
“I love it when people are that creative and inventive,” she says.
Doepker says the equipment offers a total body workout.
“You can do most of the exercises you do in a gym or a studio, only you’re outside in the fresh air and summer sunshine and its fun,” she says.
There’s not much equipment: sand, some large tires, ropes strung between large wooden posts, and a log roller. The idea is to work out on uneven surfaces and equipment which strengthens your core muscles, Andrea says.
Quoting an old coach, she describes the body’s core as the trunk of a Christmas tree. “Before you can hang any ornaments on it, your core has to be stable,” she says.
There are varying degrees of difficulty to the equipment to challenge everyone from beginner to the more advanced.
“It’s something, as parents, that you can take your kids to, so it’s kind of a family activity too. Just don’t tell them they’re exercising,” Andrea says laughing. “They’re just playing, everyone likes to play.”
(EDMONTON JOURNAL)
