Cow shed gym brings fitness to the Whakamarama countryside

A partially renovated cow shed on a 323-hectare farm in Whakamarama has found a new purpose as an open-air gym, offering a refreshing alternative to the conventional city fitness experience. Personal trainer Anneli Deschamps, originally from Mount Maunganui, runs regular circuit classes out of the old cowshed after her father-in-law converted it during the first Covid-19 lockdown to keep fit. Her mother-in-law and a few friends showed interest, and the sessions have grown steadily from there.

The workouts blend warm-up exercises, bodyweight and weighted exercises, boxing and stretches — all to the backdrop of birdsong and the occasional visit from a Clydesdale-paint horse named Penny, who wanders over from the surrounding paddock to peer inside. Deschamps says many of her clients have never set foot in a gym before and find the relaxed rural setting far less intimidating than a typical urban facility.

The farm itself has an interesting history — once home to around 150 dairy cows and once self-sufficient in meat, vegetables and fruit. These days it runs blueberries, kiwifruit and dairy grazing, and is owned by a fourth-generation family who intend to keep it as a legacy for the next generation.

Deschamps says her passion for fitness grew while living in Queenstown, where she fell in love with helping people feel good about themselves and build new habits. Anyone keen to join a class can email deschampsanneli@gmail.com or call 021 077 5416.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).