Rotorua people can bring out inner child with parkour sessions

Rotorua people can join in at parkour sessions. Photo/Supplied

The inner kid in locals can be revealed while building functional strength through parkour sessions.

Dylan Jackson, facilitator of Parkour Rotorua, says he wanted to start up these sessions because Rotorua did not really have anything available for this sport.

He says there are classes at Mid Island Gym Sports and a trampoline park, but not a proper outdoor parkour training facility.

"It's something I've wanted to get up off the ground to get more people into it and get better facilities."

He says he officially started doing parkour about three years ago, when he decided to attend the MIGS' parkour classes with friends.

"We had always done it at high school so was a great fit for us."

Dylan's open parkour session runs on Thursday from 4pm to 5.30pm, and he wants to start a session for adults from 5.30pm to 7pm.

The session meets outside Lady Jane's Ice Cream Parlour, and from there they go to wherever they want to do parkour.

They include finding different lines - sets of movements in different directions - which may include challenges. They also include some conditioning and occasionally tricks.

"I enjoy parkour because it pushes you to do a lot of things you wouldn't normally be doing."

Dylan says you can join parkour at any level and ability, even if you have never done sport.

"I wasn't a big sports person at high school, but with parkour I found out how much I liked doing physical activity.

"I've found doing this has helped bring out the inner kid in me."

He says it also helps with the ability of being able to overcome your fears.

"You want to be able to overcome obstacles, and that's the objective of parkour, and building the functional strength to be able to do that."

For more information, go to the group's Instagram page @parkour_rotorua. Those interested are welcome to turn up at the sessions.