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How to Start Your Own Parkour Gym

If you have a passion for parkour and you’re tired of having to find new, unique places to do what you love outdoors, why not consider your own gym? No, it doesn’t have to be just a pipe dream. A parkour gym could be more successful than you think.

Why? First, you’re not the only one who shares that passion. Second, it’s not always easy for other people to find places for the hobby. Some neighborhoods just don’t have a lot of options. Other areas see seasonal snow, making it difficult to safely parkour outdoors.

Most importantly, however, parkour has seen a surge in popularity lately. It’s largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the combination of people staying at home, missing sports, and looking for new things to do. Some people have tried to keep their mental and physical health in check by trying new ways of being active.

And we all know there’s a great way to do that.

So, starting a gym can help you to capitalize on the parkour’s popularity while doing something you love. Not sure how to get started? We’ve got you covered.

Educate Yourself on the Business Side of Things

Unless you already own your own business or work in the industry, you might be passionate about parkour but lack the knowledge and experience it takes to get a business off the ground.

There are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re starting any kind of business to make the process easier on yourself. Some of the little things that can make a big difference include:

• Surrounding yourself with the right people
• Listening to a mentor in the business world
• Understanding how you’ll secure financial backing
• Starting small

If you’re truly green when it comes to business, you might want to consider getting an education that will truly allow you to prosper. It can be scary to go back to school at first, especially if you’re doing it to make a major career change. But, earning an MBA degree and learning how to focus specifically on things like financing and marketing will help you to make smarter choices as you move your business forward.

Educating yourself on best business practices will also prepare you for growth. Every business wants to expand and succeed, but being prepared for growth is crucial to meet your customers’ needs and keep your employees from burning out.

Don’t Do it All On Your Own

Speaking of employees, they’re going to be a crucial component to your gym’s success. You will quickly find that the people surrounding you in this endeavor are important and necessary. When you’re starting a business, it’s normal to feel like it’s solely your responsibility. So, you might think all of the work falls only on you.

But, can you think of one successful business that runs that way?

Delegation is an important part of any business. Just because you have a passion for parkour doesn’t mean you’re an expert in everything a business needs to run successfully. Hiring people to take care of things like marketing, accounting, IT services, or just daily administrative tasks will make a big difference. If you’re not convinced that you should be delegating or outsourcing some of your work, consider the benefits:

• You’ll have more time to focus on training, teaching others, and helping your business to grow
• You won’t get burnt out as quickly
• You can experience a better work-life balance
• It makes others feel valuable to your business

There are going to be things you can’t do on your own if you want your business to have a chance at success. So, while it can be difficult to hand over the reins on some things, it’s also necessary. You might end up learning from others who specialize in different areas and create strong relationships with your employees or contractors you outsource with. In the end, you all have the same goal. Working toward that goal together while each focusing on your own specific strengths and skills is what will give your business a firm foundation and the ability to grow.

Create the Right Space

When most people think of parkour, big buildings, parks, and large outdoor spaces probably come to mind. So, a parkour gym needs to be able to capture that feeling in a more enclosed and concentrated space.

The good news? This is parkour. You don’t need to invest in fancy gym equipment.

In fact, you might be able to DIY a lot of your setup, whether you’re creating a space specifically for professionals, or you want to have a gym that’s open to anyone who wants to up their parkour game – even kids interested in getting active and building their fitness levels.

A parkour gym should have a few basic things, including:

• Obstacles
• Climbing elements
• Balance elements
• Slopes
• Hurdles

How you go about bringing those elements to life is completely up to you. DIYing your gym space is where your years of experience with parkour will come in handy. Think about some of the obstacles in your favorite parkour spots. How can you recreate them or make them even better inside of a gym?

Your number one priority, whether you make your own DIY parkour gym equipment or you buy some pieces already put together, should be safety. Fear is a common problem for people just starting out in the world of parkour. They might be encouraged to come to a parkour gym because it’s a more controlled environment. So, beginners will want to feel safe and secure when they’re learning what to do. Having the right equipment will help with that.

With knowledge, experience, a lot of help, and putting together the perfect space, creating your own parkour gym is definitely within reach. It’s a fantastic way to bring your passion to life and to share it with others who are interested, too. Parkour is much more than a fitness fad, and you already know how addicting it can be once you get started. When you open a gym, others will be able to see that, too.

Author: Jori Hamilton