Youth gym culture grows in Murwillumbah

MORE young people in Murwillumbah are turning to gym training for both fitness and mental health benefits, with a local manager pointing to school programs and social media as key drivers.

Envision Health and Fitness manager Nirmala Biswas said the increase in youth training has been noticeable in recent years.

“We’re seeing an influx of youth getting into their training,” Biswas said.

She said schools offering gym training as a sports elective were helping introduce young people to structured exercise.

“I think it exposes kids to the gym and what training really involves,” she said.

Biswas said the gym was providing an alternative for those not involved in traditional sports.

Envision Health and Fitness, one of three 24-hour gyms in Murwillumbah, has grown rapidly in its five years of operation, attracting a broad mix of age groups drawn to its modern facilities and strong sense of community. Photo: Pancho Symes.

“The gym has been a saviour in terms of youth fitness, because it gives young people a sense of purpose and a routine,” she said.

She said social media was also influencing gym culture, both positively and negatively.

“You have to be a bit sceptical,” she said.

“There’s a lot of beneficial knowledge out there, but there’s also stuff out there that is obviously dangerous and incorrect.”

Biswas said while some young people were influenced by trends, many were focused on how training made them feel.

“I think people realise that it’s more about the journey than just the destination,” she said.

For young Murwillumbah resident Daya Rossi, gym training is as much about mental wellbeing as it is physical fitness.

More young people in Murwillumbah are turning to the gym for both fitness and mental health benefits. Photo: File.

“I think the gym is important to build mental fortitude,” he said.

Rossi said that he trains weekly, gaining stability from consistent routine and the measurable progress.

“It’s not just about getting stronger physically, it is where I clear my head, practice discipline and see real progress over time,” he said.

He added that the steadying effect of a gym routine is particularly beneficial for young people in a modern landscape shaped by the weight of social media and constant distraction.

“I feel that in today’s world, we live on our phones and lack much of a physical challenge,” he said.

“For me, lifting weights satisfies a primal urge to overcome mental and physical discomfort in order to be better tomorrow.”