Gym buddy Tuija Ojanen: “The best part is doing things together”

Tuija Ojanen is one of Espoo’s gym buddies who encourage older people to train at the gym safely. A gym buddy is not a professional but a trained volunteer who provides encouragement and company at the gym.

– I had just retired in 2018 when I saw an announcement in the paper about the first gym buddy training, Tuija says.

Tuija had no actual previous experience in going to the gym, but volunteering around that theme interested her.

– The Gym buddy activity called to me, and I decided to try it out.

The training for a gym buddy now lasts one day, and the training involves learning the basics of gym training, balance training and guiding others.

– The training also covered the ethical aspects of volunteering and confidentiality, and we learned about gym equipment and group classes.

Tuija works as a gym buddy at a senior centre in Leppävaara. There, she has people who she works with one-on-one, and she has also instructed day activity groups.

At the moment, Tuija is a guide and peer instructor for a strength and balance group for people over 75.

– I introduce gym training to people who are new to it. I also give advice on using the equipment, help them get on the equipment if necessary, I guide them to do exercises correctly and give them encouragement.

The older gymgoers praise Tuija for her positive and encouraging attitude.

– A gym buddy can have any kind of background. It does help if you are extroverted, like spending time with people and know how to guide people, but it’s nothing you can’t learn, Tuija points out.

This autumn, Tuija has also started going to the gym regularly with a friend.

– A gym buddy has to be fit enough to help others. The best part of the gym buddy system is teamwork and doing things together, says Tuija.

Text: Thea Ekholm

This article was also published in an Espoo liikkuu advertising supplement in the Länsiväylä newspaper on 17 September 2025.