16.10.2013 - Ausgabe: 5/2013

Fitness circuit in the Garden of Health

A highly diverse range of exercise options offering everyone the opportunity to improve their coordination, strength and stamina in line with their own capabilities has been provided in the ‘Garden of Health’ in Zanderstrasse in Bad Nauheim, north of Frankfurt am Main.

What exactly has happened to all the fitness trails? Bad Nauheim’s Garden of Health located in its Zanderstrasse has a widely diverse range of exercise options that are appropriate for all levels of personal ability. This project can boast two patrons; one is the Hessischer Löwe Lions Club branch, which paid for the equipmentand its assembly, and the other is Bad Nauheim’s local authority, which made the land available and will be responsible for the upkeep of the circuit over the coming years.
“We call ourselves the ‘City of Health’, and so the provision of facilities for sport and health-promoting activities is a significant part of our responsibilities,” emphasizes Prof. Friedrich-Karl Feyerabend, chairman of the city council. Sadly, financial constraints mean that voluntary contributions towards the cost of such facilities tend to be something of a rarity. It is thus especially refreshing when members of the local community decide to actively intervene in support of cultural, sport and social undertakings.
“It has again become apparent in the case of Bad Nauheim how important the participation of ordinary citizens is, particularly when it comes to the provision of exercise spaces. It is not just that they can help with the acquirement of the various materials – it is equally important that an exercise circuit is actually used by those it is intended for. This has been appropriately catered for in this instance. The circuit is located in the immediate vicinity of a saline health spa, which means that the air is particularly salty here, so that we had several technical problems to overcome during construction,” explains Steffen Strasser of the PlayParc playground equipment manufacturer.
No such problems for Saskia and her friend Sophie. Both are eight years old and are absolutely entranced by the pedalo section: “We’re going to do it with all our friends and we’ll tell everyone about it at school.” Günther, on the other hand, has reached the grand old age of 86 years and is the oldest visitor using the fitness circuit on its opening day. “This really is an attractive site and the air is healthy here right next to the salt graduation tower. I like all the equipment provided – I can do all the exercises as much as I can manage. Younger people can really get down to it and do a proper workout, so there’s something for everyone here.”
With its seven different sets of exercise equipment, this trail is designed to appeal to all generations and provides everyone with the opportunity to keep fit. Gordon Kirstein, who supervised the project for the Lions Club together with Peter Freyer, is obviously pleased with the result. “The German Olympic Sports Confederation and a group of sports scientists at Munich University helped us with the concept design.” Andreas Klages, Deputy Director of Sports Development, and head of the Department for Recreational Sports and Sport Facilities of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), was thus also present during the opening ceremony. In his welcoming speech, he stressed the relevance of the provision of exercise facilities and how important these are for the health of everyone. Those using the circuit will be able to practice their coordination skills using a balancing section and pedalo section, both of which are four metres in length, while there is also a suspended platform that needs a sense of balance and the ability to react quickly to master it.
There is strength and mobilisation training equipment designed to exercise various specific muscle groups – the stations provide for exercising in the form of sit-ups, arm pulls, leg lifts and air walking.
A clearly legible instruction sign is provided for each piece of equipment that describes how to use it. “In order to make it easier for people to start using the circuit, our club will also be paying for a fitness instructor who will be present on site at various times until about early October 2013 to provide help and tips,” says Uta Löber, who also promoted the idea of the fitness circuit in the Lions Club. “People can find out the times at which training sessions are available on our club website at www.lc-badnauheim-hessischerloewe.de.” To ensure that as many visitors as possible can use the equipment, the Garden of Health in the Zanderstrasse will be open daily from 7.00 am to dusk.