Omnigym installs outdoor fitness equipment at Paris shelter
Finnish manufacturer Omnigym has provided workout equipment to the Emmaüs Solidarité homeless shelter in Paris, aiming to improve physical fitness and social cohesion among residents.
Omnigym has installed four pieces of outdoor fitness equipment in the courtyard of the Emmaüs Solidarité shelter in Paris. The initiative, launched as a trial in July, seeks to provide an accessible space for physical activity for individuals who may face significant financial and social barriers to using private gyms.
Sensors on the equipment track usage patterns, revealing that residents often utilize the machines during late hours, reflecting the irregular schedules common among the unhoused population. Feedback from residents and staff indicates positive outcomes: an internal survey found that 90% of users reported that the space helped them connect with others, while 80% noted improvements in physical fitness.
Omnigym CEO Kirsti Laasio stated that the company views these installations as a way to build community and encourage preventive healthcare. By integrating workout spaces into residential environments, the company aims to demonstrate the social value of exercise beyond traditional athletic facilities.
Health challenges are prevalent among the unhoused, with high rates of chronic conditions such as hypertension and asthma. Projects like this serve as a low-barrier intervention, attempting to address the lack of stability and physical activity that often hampers the well-being of displaced individuals.