By mfretes93
I pass it on the bus on the way to school twice a week. The scene is that of a group of about 15 elderly folk, dressed up in sweats, headbands, sneakers, and other exercise gear, working out together in what seems to be a glorified jungle gym. Needless to say, the image generally warms the hearts of everyone on the bus, and it's gotten to the point where I actively look for it when I take the bus in the late afternoon. Luckily, I guess I have a penchant for taking the bus at exactly the right time everyday.
I recently learned that the Rio de Janeiro state government implemented these all around the state and the city. They're brightly colored public gyms, small seas of lime green and baby blue stair steppers, exercise bikes, and ellipticals, completely free to use for the workout-hungry citizens of Rio de Janeiro.
The program, actually, is intended for the elderly and the overweight, not just because many of these people can't afford or don't want to have expensive gym memberships, but also so that these people will actually work out at all. The spaces are eye-catching and located all over the city: they were one of the first things I noticed when I arrived here, and I continue to notice them everyday.
But I suppose that one of the main reasons why I've been so fascinated by them is the fact that I'm from the U.S. of A. Americans are quite familiar with our health-freak/workout culture, and everyone's desire to look like a Hollywood actor or actress. There's always the newest diet trend--quinoa & kale-infused kombucha, anyone?--always the newest workout that will get you flat abs in 3 hours or less, and come March, everyone is running around trying to make sure they have a "beach body" in time for the one time they will go to the beach during the entire summer.
Health and exercise are simply obsessions in America, especially at a time when all of our political leaders, from those in the tiniest of town governments to those on Capital Hill, are trying their very best to fight the obesity epidemic that is taking over our deep-fried nation.
Yet even with this obsession, with all of the diets and workouts, with big-city mayors banning people from buying soda, with first ladies exercising with fifth graders, even we don't have a government program as seemingly effective as Rio de Janeiro's free public gyms. Because not only are the prevalence of these exercise spaces fighting obesity, they're also inspiring the elderly to get out of the house, to keep their bodies healthy, and to meet new people--so that they'll keep coming back, keep exercising, and get healthier over the long-run.
Of course, there's an even better part of the program that I've neglected to mention: every morning and every afternoon, each of these public exercise spaces also has personal trainers around to help you with your workout. They're employed by Rio's government, and yes, their services are also completely free. You tell them what you're trying to work on--be it cardio, abs, or whatever you want--and they'll tell you what machines to use, and for how long.
And luckily for everyone under the age of 60, it isn't strange for you to use these gyms--and their personal trainers--even though they're intended for the elderly and the overweight. They're public spaces, after all--they're for anyone and everyone, and no one will look at you strangely for being the only person working out under the age of 45.
All of this isn't to say that Rio de Janeiro doesn't also have its own obsession with health and fitness that borders on the obscene. There are expensive, upscale gyms on nearly every block, after all. Many of my friends here in Brazil have a gym membership at one of these locales, or take sport classes at school. But with these government-funded hotspots all over the city, why spend the extra money when you can just take a walk around the corner?
And lastly, a word to the U.S.: why didn't we come up with this first?
Something the U.S. could use: free public gyms? #GWU #GWUAbroad