Fitness Workouts Powered by Community Kindness
- 43 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Most people hit the gym for a self-centred workout, but what if there was another way to stay fit that actually made a difference to more than just yourself?
In London, there is. After a one mile warm up jog, this gym class then sets about doing something rather different to lifting weights or doing squats. Instead, they have run to a rooftop garden above a concrete car park, and they are doing some arduous gardening, like shovelling compost, and moving items from storage to where they need to be. One of their past workouts involved hauling hundreds of compost bags up a narrow stairway to the rooftop. “That was an amazing workout,” said one of the local leaders. These are just two examples of GoodGym in action.
It’s a growing movement that’s redefining what it means to work out. The organization invites people to “get fit by doing good,” blending physical activity with hands-on community service. Members run, walk, or cycle to local projects that could range from sorting cans at a food bank, hauling compost, planting trees, or moving furniture for someone in need. “I go to the normal gym usually and I do other sorts of exercise,” said Jason Kurtis, 42, a regular volunteer. “But this is my mandatory once-a-week run with the GoodGym group. It’s really fun, and it forces me to get out, especially on a Monday night when it’s cold and in the middle of winter.”
As GoodGym's website says: "We're a community of people who combine running, walking and cycling with helping our communities. Join us, feel great, and make a real change."
For thousands across England and Wales, GoodGym (a registered charity that's free to join) offers more than just an alternative to the gym. It’s become a community powered by kindness, sweat, and a shared commitment to making a difference.
