Coach LJ Torrie talks outdoor fitness at Aotea Lagoon
Outdoor fitness is about more than equipment. At its best, it creates a free, welcoming space where people can build strength, confidence and connection in their own community.
That is exactly what is happening at Aotea Lagoon in Porirua, where Porirua City Council has invested in a dedicated outdoor fitness area using Kompan outdoor fitness equipment, supplied and installed by Playground People in collaboration with Council.
To help show how the space can be used, we met with Porirua-based fitness coach LJ Torrie, founder of Pushing Weight NZ, for an on-site interview and workout demonstration.
LJ brings a strong local and community perspective to outdoor training. A Porirua local himself, he has used calisthenics, strength training, functional movement and mindset to rebuild his own life, and now works to help others in his community do the same. His message is simple: fitness should be accessible, practical and available to everyone.
In the video, LJ talks about how spaces like Aotea Lagoon can help remove barriers to exercise. The equipment can be used by people at different fitness levels, from those just starting out through to people looking for a more challenging strength or calisthenics workout.
One of the great things about the Kompan fitness equipment is that you do not need to be coached to get started. People can simply come along and give it a go, and use the Kompan Fitness App for exercise instructions and workout guidance.
Free-to-use outdoor fitness spaces like this are also a powerful way to reach real people in real communities, including those who may not always connect with organised sport. Calisthenics and street-style fitness have real appeal, especially for rangatahi, and this type of facility is starting to take hold across New Zealand.
Aotea Lagoon is already proving to be a valuable community fitness destination for Porirua.
Watch the interview with Coach LJ Torrie here:
The outdoor fitness area at Aotea Lagoon is helping people like LJ Torrie engage and inspire the local community through accessible, free-to-use fitness opportunities. Read more about the project here.