It goes without saying—but similar to most activities, working out is hardly accessible for the disabled population. I’ll speak out of both sides of my mouth for a moment: yes, the intense workouts we see on TV aren’t accessible to most people, especially the disabled. However, successful workouts don’t have to be intense.
SMILE Mass offers weekly workout sessions with trainers that are completely customizable to all abilities and strength levels. I shadowed Kristen (CEO Susan Brown’s daughter) during a session with trainer Trevor. Her workout included warm-up stretches, sit-to-stand exercises, tossing a ball back and forth, light resistance training, lifting 5-lb weights, walking on a treadmill, and pushing “the tank” (90 lbs) across the room.
For someone with less mobility, workouts might focus more on stretching and balance training. It’s crucial that clients or caregivers communicate abilities to allow coaches to tailor exercises to help in daily life. Movement equals independence—and independence equals a greater quality of life.
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