Hey,
I’m Jules. Seven years ago, my fitness journey began not in a state-of-the-art gym, but right there in my living room. As a busy working father with a 2-year-old at the time, finding dedicated time for myself was already a significant challenge. Yet, with nothing more than a £20 pair of dumbbells from Argos and a coffee table serving as my bench, I embarked on a personal transformation. The spark? Believe it or not, it was watching an episode of Love Island. Having always been skinny, I suddenly craved a more muscular, confident physique. I literally started there and then.
What started as five nights a week, working out while the show aired on TV, quickly became a consistent habit of three or four evening sessions. Along the way, I started learning about nutrition, understanding how to truly feed my body to amplify the results I was seeing. My equipment gradually expanded – some second-hand weights, a sturdy bench, and even a few resistance bands passed on by a friend. This journey taught me an invaluable lesson: incredible progress is possible without breaking the bank or needing a dedicated, expensive space.
Life, however, threw an unimaginable challenge my way when I lost my wife to illness, suddenly becoming a solo parent to my now two children. In the face of such immense change, the need for accessible, flexible fitness became not just a convenience, but a profound lifeline. It was during this incredibly challenging time that outdoor gyms became even more vital for me. They offered not just a free escape, but a way to maintain my physical and mental strength, often squeezed into precious moments with my children playing nearby.
My goal was clear: to channel all that I had learned and built into a resource that could empower others who could relate. If I could transform my fitness journey from humble beginnings, navigate life’s toughest moments, and still prioritise well-being, then truly accessible outdoor gyms offered a similar path for countless others. And that’s why Park Gyms exists. It’s more than just a directory; it’s a culmination of a personal journey and a passion to make free, convenient, and effective fitness available to everyone. I built this platform to help people across the UK, no matter their starting point or the challenges they face, to smash their fitness goals and feel amazing in their own skin.
