Promoting Overall Fitness (short version)

Make Fitness more Inviting with Equipment that has Moving Parts

Named after the high school in Carmichael, California that adopted it, the La Sierra method was a comprehensive P.E. system with a holistic approach and monumental outcomes. Though this system focused primarily on rigorous training to increase strength, endurance, and flexibility, it did so in a way that also forged character and mental discipline. Those in the La Sierra program had different ranks to celebrate different physical accomplishments, and students cheered on one another as they achieved new levels. To take the idea of developing the whole person through fitness to the next level, the La Sierra system even included leadership training.

As a result, on average, the boys in La Sierra High School P.E. program’s lowest third could do 4.5 times the amount of pull-ups than boys in the lowest third of traditional P.E. programs. The La Sierra method was then implemented in 4,000 schools before being criticized for its intensity.

What can we learn from the La Sierra method?

The La Sierra method integrated a holistic approach to well-being that starts with improving one’s physical health, allowing them to reach new peaks in their mental and emotional health. Unfortunately, however, physical health has greatly declined since the age of the La Sierra program. Kennedy once said in a speech, “I hope we will not find a day in the United States when all of us are spectators except for a few, out on the field,” but it only took 50 years to make a reality.

Society Today

Society today is nowhere near the fitness level of those at the peak of the La Sierra system. As noted by the CDC, due to factors such as lack of physical activities in a sedentary society, poor food choices, and an increase in digital social interactions and technology usage, physical health in the United States is declining. Obesity has become a national epidemic, with the following statistics from the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

Though there are still park or school fitness equipment installations similar to the ones used by La Sierra High School, most of them incorporate stationary calisthenic exercise equipment — like pull-up bars and dip stations — that rely on the user’s body weight to intensify the workout. While calisthenic exercises have wonderful benefits, the nature of calisthenic exercises makes them more challenging for the heavier-set individuals who are trying to get into fitness. Further, those who are dedicated to staying fit through calisthenic exercises can convert numerous common structures, like picnic tables, to become their personal gym, making the need for stationary equipment less dire.

The advantage of fitness equipment with moving parts

• More inviting for those who are newer to exercise
• The workouts are more straightforward
• Outdoor fitness centers are often less intimidating than traditional gyms
• The workouts are not as intense for overweight individuals as body-weight resistance exercises
• Outdoor fitness centers eliminate the cost of a gym membership, making exercise more accessible to those with lower incomes
• With outdoor gyms, individuals can build confidence in their exercise routine that allows them to better seek overall wellness.

The 7 Principles of Universal Design

Greenfields Outdoor Fitness deliberated how to best promote wellness through fitness for people of varying ages and abilities. In line with the Center for Universal Design and North Carolina State’s seven principles of universal design, Greenfields incorporated the following elements in their product designs:

1. Approachable and accessible size and space through incorporating clearance zones into every layout, ensuring ease of use for those with mobility impairments
2. Equitable use for people of varying abilities through wheelchair accessible, body-weight leverage, and adjustable resistance units
3. Flexibility in use by accommodating a wide range of individual preferences and abilities through 7 different unique product lines
4. Simple and intuitive design with written and visual instructions as well as tutorials in the Greenfields app
5. Perceptible information through the Greenfields app that allows users to search for nearby gyms, customize their routine, find tutorials for specific units, and more
6. Tolerance for error by incorporating Safe Stop technology to protect users and equipment from recoil
7. Low physical effort required, as users can adjust their resistance according to their fitness levels and goals

Install It Today

Are you ready to equip your community to seek wellness, starting with their physical health? Contact Greenfields Outdoor Fitness today to learn more and get a complimentary mock-up customized for your community!