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Gymnation
began life quite humbly. Ten years ago, young Asian men trained
in their parents' garages with equipment bought with pooled pocket
money.
They
shunned the 'Lycra health studio' fashion seen at most gyms which
also paraded their exclusivity with exorbitant annual and session
fees.
The
lads improvised and utilised old pine benches, kitchen tables and
even old settees. The parents beamed with pride at this homegrown
industry from their boys.
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Gyms
in India are known as 'Gymkhana' and this title seemed appropriate
for this new gym until someone realised it is also a common name
for horse-riding schools in England. GymnAsia as it was then called,
would mirror the migrant workers status of its clientele.
Muslim
women are not excluded and are encouraged to use the gym facilities.
Asian women, and Muslim women specifically, will not spend time
around groups of men but this cultural barrier has been bypassed.
There are three weekly 'women only' sessions which have an astonishing
age span.
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| Our
Untold Stories |
It
moved home often. However word-of-mouth increased its numbers and
soon The Garage would strangle movement. Over the years, GymnAsia
has hopped from shops, church halls and disused shower rooms to
community centre halls.
In
1996, the Gloucestershire Resource Centre offered them rent-free
space in a bare, former factory - The City Works in Alfred Street.
The
phenomenal new scope and capacity allowed for a swelling of numbers
and even for an archery club to exist.
Gymnation
took a final leap in 1998 by absorbing a neighbouring up-for-sale
gym, Goldline, and finally established a permanent home for itself.
Its
moniker had served for many years but the gym was no longer exclusive
to Gujarati Muslims. So GymnAsia sloughed off its skin and emerged
as Gymnation.
Today
it's a 'not-for-profit' limited company and a registered charity,
with full-time and part-time employees and a host of eager volunteers.
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Gymnation
encourages its
members to achieve professional
fitness qualifications
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Gymnation
is a project that encourages its members to achieve professional
fitness qualifications and promotes health and fitness as much as
bodybuilding.
It
cultivates trust amongst its younger clientele, enforces a zero-tolerance
for drug-use and is a resource for youth-context advice and educational
internet access.
The
relationship extends to the local police and fire service, who not
only use the facilities but also seek advice to recruit employees
from minority groups. With
help, they have successfully employed their first non-white staff.
The gym is one of the key voluntary groups in Gloucester city
and is used by nearly 200 people a week from many different
backgrounds and nationalities and is a model of community cohesion.
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| Our
Untold Stories |
The
gym is one of the key voluntary groups in Gloucester city and is
used by nearly 200 people a week from many different backgrounds
and nationalities and is a model of community cohesion.
Muslim
women are not excluded and are encouraged to use the gym facilities.
Asian women, and Muslim women specifically, will not spend time
around groups of men but this cultural barrier has been bypassed.
There
are three weekly 'women only' sessions which have an astonishing
age span.
The
Gym is the heart of a larger scheme. Its sister projects include
the Friendship Café, Summer Playscheme and an affiliation to Surestart.
The
Friendship Café, launched in November 2001, provides a club with
youth and community activities such as sports pool tables, games
consoles, table soccer, table tennis, a coffee/confectionery bar
and two internet portals.
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Surestart
is designed to encourage dads to invest time with their children
by participating with play in a kids' corner. Mums appreciate the
short break from the children and the big noisy husband too!
The
Summer Playscheme wing organises outdoor summer activities for parents
and excited children. In 2002, the activities included a trip to
Cattle Country at Berkeley, a Bouncy Castle day, storytime, and
craftwork.
The
Gymnation committee has organised even more in recent years including
a day trip to Parliament with a guided tour, horse-riding, a go-kart
trophy competition and even hired a swimming pool at GL1 for weekly
sessions. It's the beating heart for a hive of activity that uplifts
hearts and minds.
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See 'The Bangladeshi Community'
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See 'The Christian Community'
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See 'The Gujarati Muslim Community'
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See 'The Hindu Community'
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See 'The Pakistani Community'
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See 'The Shia Muslim Community'
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See 'The Sikh Punjabi Community'
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