3 Ways to Avoid Injury at Detroit’s Fit Park
Kelly Hall
| 2 min read
Want to get active outside while using what looks like a playscape for adults? That dream is now possible if you live or work in Detroit.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Live the Riverfront partnership with the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy expanded when a Fit Park was unveiled along the Dequindre Cut Greenway.
The Fit Park features a new HealthBeat Outdoor Fitness System for ages 13 and up that includes parallel bars, pull-up bars, ab crunch/leg lift, cardio stepper, squat press and chest/back press.
If you dread working out indoors, the Fit Park is a great option to beat boredom and enjoy the beautiful Michigan summer weather. Choose your favorite equipment and craft your own circuit-style workout for an entire-body toning session. Grab a buddy and challenge each other to see who can get the most reps on each piece of equipment. Signage at each station even includes links to instructional videos that can be viewed on a smart device, so you can learn how to properly use each piece of equipment.
Michelle Moten demonstrating the parallel bars.
No matter how you work it, make sure to make safety a priority. Michelle Moten, founder and program director of Urban Solace Yoga Studio, has three tips on how to safely use the Fit Park:
- When using the squat press, make sure your knees don’t overshoot your toes to avoid injury. You know you’re too far forward if your heels lift up when squatting.
- Make sure the back is stabilized while using the ab crunch machine.
- Listen to your body! You need to be aware of what it’s trying to tell you in order to optimize your workout.
The Detroit RiverWalk and Dequindre Cut Greenway are open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and are located by the Woodbridge entrance to the Dequindre Cut near the Detroit RiverFront. A map is available here.
Check out pictures from the opening of Detroit’s first ever Fit Park here.
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Photo credit: A Healthier Michigan
