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Get outdoors with 'Green Gyms'
29/03/2009
As the clocks go forward and thoughts turn to spending more time outdoors, it's the perfect time to get fit and do your bit for the environment at the same time.
Thanks to £300,000 from the Scottish Government, Green Gyms are set to spring up around Scotland, giving everyone the chance to work out in the open air.
Green Gyms in Scotland are organised by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. These gyms with a difference give people the chance to ditch pumping iron in favour of tree planting, repairing footpaths or growing food on an allotment.
All Green Gym sessions involve trained leaders putting volunteers through their paces in an outdoor space. Sessions start with warm-up exercises, demonstrations on how to use the tools provided and a briefing on the task ahead. Sessions end with cool-down exercises and a tidy-up.
People - young and old - are shown how to get to grips with digging holes, stone walling and planting to improve their local environment and their fitness. They can also be given hints and tips on how to grow food in their own gardens.
Research shows that working out in the fresh air, reduces people's stress levels and risk of heart disease and stroke. The activities also improve muscular strength, helping older people to lead more independent lives.
Public Health and Sport Minister Shona Robison said:
"It only takes 30 minutes a day of physical activity, at least five days a week, to gain enormous health benefits and help prevent many serious diseases like heart disease, cancer and stroke.
"This weekend the clocks go forward and with the days getting brighter it's a great time to make the most of the outdoors.
"Green Gyms are free for everyone to use and, for people who won't set foot in a regular gym, they offer a way to improve your fitness while meeting new people, learning something new and benefiting your local area."
Development Manager for BTCV Scotland David Graham said:
"BTCV Green Gyms offer people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to improve their fitness through involvement in practical environmental activities such as tree and hedge planting, creating and maintaining community gardens or improving footpaths.
"Green Gyms can also help improve cardiovascular fitness and the activities often burn off more calories than a normal aerobics session as well as providing the added benefits of fresh air, improved environmental quality and the opportunity for volunteers to make new friends. Why not join in for an hour or more on a weekly basis - for a healthy heart."
For further information about BTCV Green Gyms, including how to join a Green Gym, visit the official website at www.btcv.org.uk
BTCV supports community groups and organisations to start their own Green Gym. As well as a cash grant, training is provided by BTCV Green Gym leaders.
The Scottish Government has provided £300,000 to support the expansion of BTCV Green Gyms across Scotland by 2012.
Half of men and two-thirds of women in Scotland are not physically active enough for good health.
The National Physical Activity Strategy Let's Get Scotland More Active includes the target that, by 2022, 50 per cent of adults and 80 per cent of children should meet the current recommended levels of physical activity. Adults should do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity, five days per week and children should do at least one hour of moderate intensity activity every day.