Turku has outdoor exercise equipment that can be used free of charge throughout the city. We followed a first-timer's workout.
There are over thirty outdoor gyms and a few fitness stairs in Turku. They are open every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for exercisers of all levels.
Check out the nearby exercise facilities and feel free to give them a try:
Petri Uggeldahl, 58, performs bench presses on the outdoor gym equipment in Urkolanpuisto Park. The weights are reasonable, so he is smiling.
– This is a nice piece of equipment, as you can exercise and relax at the same time.
Petri says that he has been good at coming up with excuses why now is not a good time to exercise. However, his goal now is to lead a more permanent lifestyle change, because “I've been on a path that seems to not have been maintained for a long time”.
He has also participated in a Liikkeelle group run by the city's sports services, where the group has received advice on, among other things, the right balance between calories and exercise.
– My beloved spouse passed away three years ago, but I still cook for two.
Petri describes himself as not really being a gym person. However, outdoor exercise equipment is very easy to use and allows him to get some fresh air at the same time.
He lives in Kastu, and there are several parks nearby with outdoor exercise equipment.
– It feels like the equipment is surrounding me on all sides. I guess I'll just have to give in to it now.
Versatile training
Sports planner Essi Tuomola has come to observe the first-timer try out the equipment. She encourages others to take advantage of the free equipment that offers a varied workout.
The smartest approach to do is proceed gradually, as Petri has done.
– It's a good idea to perform three sets of 8–12 repetitions, for example. The weights should feel light at the beginning, but heavy by the end.
Muscle mass begins to decline naturally in your thirties, and muscle loss accelerates further between the ages of 50 and 60.
Exercise helps to maintain the condition of muscles. In addition, muscles can, of course, still grown even at an older age.
Stretching is beneficial
Petri also needs help with mobility and balance exercises.
– With age, I have noticed that I sometimes stumble on forest walks, and the reason may not be solely due to the stumps and roots.
According to Essi, outdoor exercise equipment also helps to improve mobility.
– But the most effective thing is to warm up and stretch before using the equipment. It's a good idea to stretch regularly anyway, she reminds us.
The exercise planner also recommends fitness stairs as an excellent aid for endurance training.
– You can go up the stairs walking, running or even doing side stretches.
Hans Solo on the leg press
Petri has moved on to the leg press – and is using visualisation training to help him. Perhaps we are not in Suikkila after all, but in a galaxy far, far away.
– These machines look so futuristic that they remind me of the Star Wars contraptions that were used to travel in the desert.
Soon, all four machines in the park will have been tried out.
– There will definitely be more to come. Next, I'll try out some of the other equipment in the park.
Essi thinks that if some amount of time has passed since the previous workout, the muscles may be a little sore tomorrow.
– Then just a couple of days of rest and back to it, preferably twice a week.
TEXT: MATTI VÄLIMÄKI
The article has been published in Finnish in Turkuposti 1, 2026.