Teem Triumph, a group that offers free workouts on Thursdays at Central Oahu Regional Park, is trying to eliminate some of the obstacles that keep people from working out. They don’t charge a fee, kids are welcome and they split the class into two different skill levels.
“We make it easy to go,” said Keenan Shigematsu, a 24-year-old Mililani resident and founder of Teem Triumph. “We don’t want it to be a chore.”
The team started off as a small group of friends trying out different types of workouts, from calisthenics to boxing and hiking.
“We started training and hiking with a few of our friends, our parents, their friends, and as our numbers grew we created Teem Triumph,” he said. “We hold free low-impact workouts, take people out on hikes, and we partner with businesses that promote a healthy lifestyle, too”
Between 20 and 50 people, from teens to seniors, attend the drop-in workouts each week. “Everything we do has modifications,” Shigematsu said.
Class begins with some health tips, stretching and warmups. When ready to go, the group is split in half, with a low-impact session and a circuit workout that includes running. Personal trainers Jordyn Ah Chong, Joey Maekawa and Daniel “K.P.” Paglinwan donate their time and lead the groups. The low-impact exercises focus on core training and balance, which is especially beneficial for seniors, Shigematsu said. “Sometimes we have a guest yoga instructor to spice it up a bit.”
The circuit training offers a higher-intensity workout.
Once the workouts are done, the groups reconnect for a final stretch and cooldown.
Paige Daida, a 22-year-old Mililani student, lost 40 pounds this past year since starting the workouts. “It’s all in fun. It’s an encouraging environment and there’s lots of high-fives,” she said.
Daida helps organize the workouts. Gear such as ladders, resistance bands and dumbbells is sometimes used.
“We try to teach stuff that you can do at home,” said Shigematsu, a nuclear engineer. “We hope to expand to other neighborhoods. It would be great if people had access to the free workouts around the island.”
The Thursday workouts begin at 6:15 p.m. at Central Oahu Regional Park in Waipio. Bring a towel, athletic shoes and water. Visit teemtriumph.com or email TeemTriumphHI@gmail.com for more information.
