Participating in sport has so many benefits. Not only has it been proven to improve a person’s overall fitness and health, it has also been shown to build confidence and relieve stress. Many people also find that sport is a fun and social activity which is important for quality of life.

So why doesn’t everyone participate in sport? Unfortunately for many people there is a huge financial barrier to joining a sport team or club. Often times, participating in sport comes with a lot of up-front costs including registration fees, club membership, equipment and even travel. This keeps many people from being active and participating in an activity they enjoy and that is good for both their mental and physical health.

Over the past several years people around the world have been trying to figure out how to bring sport into the community – completely free of charge.

Parkrun is one such initiative. Started in 2004 by a group in London, England, the organization now organizes free 2km and 5km weekly runs all over the world. Ottawa is lucky to have its very own Parkrun group held every Saturday at 9:00am at The Beaver Pond Trail in Kanata. It is completely free but people who would like to participate are encouraged to register on the parkrun website. You do not have to be an experienced runner to join a Parkrun. Parkrun’s belief is that “We all run for our own enjoyment.”  Participants are encouraged to come along and join in at their own pace.

Another initiative that is promoting activity worldwide is the November Project. Started in Boston, its mission is to promote human development and community building through free group workouts. There is no sign-up sheet and they welcome everyone regardless of age or fitness level. November Project encourages participants to “Just show up!”

The November Project Ottawa is held every Wednesday morning starting at 6:29am at TD Place Stadium  (summer) or Parliament Hill (winter) . Come join a group of welcoming, smiley and sweaty individuals ready to hand out hugs and high fives.

While the financial barrier is still very much an issue in many cases, there are ways to get active without having to break the bank. Get together with friends and try out a free yoga video online, go for a run on one of Ottawa and Gatineau’s many trails or spend some time playing catch with your kids at the local park. Anything that gets you moving is sure to improve your mental and physical health and your life overall.