Fitness for everyone

Fitness should be for everyone

Everyone should have equal opportunity for physical activity in gyms. The results from the 'Fitness for All' campaign show how gyms can become more inclusive.

It benefits everyone to be touched as much as possible. It has a huge impact on both our physical and mental health and our quality of life. However, many association-run gyms have several barriers that stand in the way of welcoming people with mobility disabilities into the community of gyms. The barriers may include exclusionary access conditions and the layout of the centre, as well as lack of staff training.

Campaign results pave the way for inclusive gyms

With three sample projects based on the latest research in the field, the campaign shows how association-run gyms can be reimagined, transformed and decorated in new and innovative ways so that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the community — before, during and after training. In addition to equal physical solutions, the results underline the importance that instructors should also be professionally trained to advise people with all types of functional abilities and physical basis.Three example projects are:

- Viking Athletics in Rønne (video above)

- Gårslevhallen in Vejle

- Gladsaxe MultiFitness

Concrete physical solutions

The experience of the three example projects points to a number of points of attention regarding the concrete physical solutions that can help ensure that a gym becomes inclusive and at the same time offers the best possible framework for physical training. The main points of attention are collected in an overall “to-do list” as below.

• Level-free access and automatic door openers
• Wheelchair-friendly coating
• Accessible parking and large parking spaces with space for cars with lift
• Outdoor signage

• Size of the fitness center
• Open floor plan
• Visual connections
• Ventilation and heat regulation
• Lights and Lookouts
• Flow between existing building and extension

• The training area
• Cafe area
• Disabled Toilets
• Private changing and bathing facilities
• Locker facilities
• Storage space

• Fitness Machines Available
• The small details of the decor
• Removable benches and furniture
• Information boards and displays
• Automatic light control