Why creating outdoor training space is your smartest move yet
Thinking about creating an outdoor training space? Whether you own a gym, run a college recreation program, manage a YMCA, or develop multifamily housing properties, creating outdoor training space might be your smartest move yet. Here are five reasons why. 1. Expand access to strength and functional training Strength and functional training have exploded in popularity over the past decade – and with that growth often comes overcrowded indoor training zones. An outdoor space gives you breathing room to accommodate more members during peak hours, offer additional class formats, and reduce wait times on high-use equipment. With weatherproof training and storage solutions, you can confidently expand your most in-demand offerings to the outdoors. 2. Meet member demand for open-air wellness The benefits of outdoor training can’t be denied. Exercising in fresh air boosts vitamin D, increases serotonin, and helps reduce stress – all motivators for a wellness-minded member. Creating an outdoor training space shows your community that you’re listening to their preferences and evolving to meet their needs. 3. Grow without costly indoor expansion Expanding your indoor footprint can mean big dollars and even bigger headaches when it comes to permits, construction and temporary closures. Outdoor space is often just sitting there, waiting to be activated. A well-designed outdoor training environment expands your offerings without adding square footage or taking on a massive renovation. 4. Maximize underutilized outdoor areas Where do you have underutilized space? Where you may see an extra parking lot or tennis court, we see a blank canvas. If your lot has ample parking, redesignating a few spots can easily accommodate an outdoor training zone. Sports courts that aren’t getting the same play they used to can be converted into custom fitness environments. If neither of these are options, don’t forget to look up. Rooftops are often the most scenic, motivating places to train – proven by forward-thinking facilities like Bay Club San Francisco, 300 Main in San Antonio, Fit Athletic in San Diego, and University of Wisconsin. 5. Create a standout, branded fitness space Your outdoor space is an extension of your brand. With custom colors, logos and layout options, your training environment is a powerful representation of your facility. Even if someone never walks through your front doors during their workout, they’ll still connect your brand with their fitness experience – and that positive association is worth its weight in bumper plates. It might be time to think outside the building – and train outside of it, too. Eager to grow, differentiate and give your members more of what they want? We’re ready when you are. Let’s get started. Bring your vision. We’ll build the rest. Contact BeaverFit Share this… FacebookFacebook Save Twitter
4 tips for creating outdoor training spaces
Looking to expand your training footprint outdoors but not sure where to start? Creating an outdoor training space is an exciting way to increase offerings while introducing the benefits of fresh air and sunlight. But creating the best experience for your members doesn’t mean simply taking an indoor rig, moving it outdoors and expecting people to carry equipment in and out of the facility — causing inconvenience, inventory nightmares and decreased longevity of your equipment. There is a strategy to a well-developed outdoor training space, and we’re here to offer four basic tips to get started. 1. Define your outcome Looking to increase throughput? Add new class offerings? Determining your goals is the first step of designing your outdoor training space. When it comes to designing an outdoor fitness space, lean into providing more of what your members are already using inside. If your strength room is constantly overcrowded, create a strength training space outdoors with weatherproof equipment and storage. If your functional training space is in high-demand, consider outside stations with outdoor-rated accessories for maximum training capabilities. Examples: Outdoor workout space at Club Northwest featuring a SunPro shelter, Shred Shed, 30′ rig, racks, turf and more; and outdoor workout space at Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation featuring a Shred Shed and 24′ rig. 2. Identify your location Where do you have underutilized space? Where you may see a parking lot or tennis court, we see a blank canvas. The parking lot If you have ample parking for members and redesignating some spaces would not pose an inconvenience, an outdoor training space can be created in your very own parking lot. With the addition of rubber or turf flooring along with custom colors and branding, you can turn a parking lot training space into a true extension of your facility. Old basketball or tennis courts If the basketball or tennis courts at your facility are no longer being used, or are underutilized, consider turning that space into a dedicated outdoor training zone. With custom flooring, outdoor-rated strength equipment and accessories, and lockable storage customized to reflect your colors and branding, your members will never realize that your high-quality outdoor training zone was once an old sports court. The roof If the structure of your facility allows for it, a rooftop training space creates an exciting new experience for members without extra real estate. Structural considerations will be important here, and you may find that the best solutions are freestanding training stations that do not require anchoring. Example: Rooftop workout space at Bay Club San Francisco featuring two freestanding Shred Sheds. 3. Select your equipment You can’t just take any piece of training equipment and place it outdoors. Most equipment is meant solely for indoor-use. In order for a product to be fully weatherproof, the steel should go through a superior weatherproofing process involving hot-dip galvanization and powder coating. Anything less is a recipe for rust, corrosion or other damage. You should also consider custom branding so the space looks like an extension of your indoor facility. Luckily, we do both. Examples: PGA West Golf Resort and Club featuring a BeaverFit Shred Shed, double Bay Unit and Gym Box. 4. Don’t forget storage Weatherproof, integrated storage solutions keep members from dragging equipment in and out of spaces, and increase longevity of your accessories. The equipment you select should include dedicated, lockable storage for all integrated accessories and components. Otherwise, you’ll run the risk of your training gear growing legs and finding a new home. Examples: Plano Athletic Club and YMCA Middle Tennessee Performance Lockers. Get in touch Interested in expanding your training space to the outdoors? We can help. From storage and shelters to equipment and accessories, BeaverFit can outfit you with American-made, weatherproof solutions specific to your training needs, space and budget. Email Us Share this… FacebookFacebook Save Twitter
6 benefits of outdoor training
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve seen BeaverFit outdoor training solutions while doomscrolling social media. Or maybe your military unit keeps pressing you to use the new container gym they purchased and installed outside the headquarters. But why the movement toward outdoor training – is it really worth it? Short answer: Yes. Keep reading for the many dam(n) reasons why. 1. MOOD BOOST Outdoor training acts as a natural antidepressant. Exercising in nature, or ‘green exercise,’ has been shown to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. With nature increasing serotonin and exercise producing endorphins, you’ll get a double dose of feeling good. Why go for a single when you can get a double for the same cost? 2. INCREASED VITAMIN D When you exercise outdoors, your body absorbs vitamin D from the sun. Vitamin D is important for bone health, immune system function, mood and energy regulation. Spending even a short time in the sun can provide the body with all the vitamin D it needs for the day. Just remember to use protection – sun protection, that is. 3. FRESH AIR When flus and viruses are floating around, indoor gyms become breeding grounds for illness. Let’s face it: no one wants to train next to a guy who’s coughing and sneezing like he just ran a marathon through a pollen-filled field. That’s why outdoor fitness is a no-brainer when it comes to avoiding germs and enjoying fresh air. 4. STRONGER EYES Outdoor thighs, stronger eyes… or something like that. More time outdoors can improve eye health. Bright sunlight forces your eyes to “flex their muscles” and release dopamine – believed to block excessive eye growth – and serotonin – which regulates our sleep-wake cycle, ensuring eye rest and recovery. And while your eye muscles may not look as impressive as your quad muscles, they’ll prove their worth in the long run. 5. MORE SPACE, MORE OPPORTUNITIES Compared to awkwardly cramped indoor gyms, outdoor fitness allows you to take up the space you need and move freely. This not only provides more room for accessories and equipment, but opens up opportunities for unique and fun cardio drills that combine with strength work when training equipment is placed near open fields, hills, or beaches with sand. Yes, we just used ‘fun’ and ‘cardio’ in the same sentence. 6. CHALLENGE + REWARD Outdoor training is fitness with an extra shot of espresso. It’s invigorating and energizing, helping you feel more motivated to stick to your routine and continue making progress towards your goals. Whether it’s braving the elements on an exceptionally hot or cold day or powering through imperfect conditions, outdoor training will test your stamina and leave you feeling like a certified badass. If you’re interested in expanding your training space to the outdoors, we can help. From storage and shelters to equipment and accessories, BeaverFit can outfit you with an American-made, weatherproof solution specific to your training needs, space and budget. Check out our most popular outdoor training solutions at: https://beaverfitusa.com/outdoors/ Share this… FacebookFacebook Save Twitter