One growing exercise training model that taps into this notion is adaptive fitness.
If youre uncertain of where to start, tap into your adaptive fitness community.
Adaptive fitness has helped me find myself again and also helps other wheelchair users change their lives too.
It has increased my independence significantly.
And as the saying goes, she values progress, not perfection.
Her journey also inspired her latest endeavor training others using adaptive fitness.
With a certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), she startedtraining individuals with disabilities.
I am so happy that I started training again.
During heavy strength training workouts, she uses a chest strap to hold herself into her chair.
I work out now to be as independent as I possibly can for as long as I can be.
Her case impacts her legs and hands, so Gialamas walks with long leg braces.
She more than fell in love with swimming; Gialamas excelled at it.
She eventually became a two-time Paralympian in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
It certainly did enhance my quality of life and confidence, though.
So after I retired from swimming, I wanted to stay active.
Staying active is a critical part of her mindset and one she wants to pass along to others.
Everyone adapts in some way to ensure they are safely and effectively doing a workout.
Early on during the pandemic, Gialamas noticed that there werent many adaptive fitness resources available.
Photo:SHAPE / Courtesy of Alyssa Gialamas / Chelsea Hill / Preston Slaughter
I wanted to change that.
So I created AMG Fitness as a nonprofit, with free fitness programs designed for everyone.
Chelsie Hill, Founder of Rollettes
At age three, tutu-cladChelsie Hillrocked her first dance class.
Victor Salazar
I initially got intoadaptive fitnessbecause I wanted to feel stronger.
Then I got engaged, and was really feeling good physically.
I wanted to train to walk in my leg braces so I could walk down the aisle.
Courtesy of Alyssa Gialamas
What started as a personal journey grew into an adaptive fitness movement.
A driver of a car in front of them took a rapid U-turn.
Strachams pal broke his leg.
Victor Salazar
She became paralyzed from the waist down.
I gained 60 pounds and knew something had to change.
Stracham discovered adaptive CrossFit through theAdaptive Sports & Adventure Programand her life shifted.
BAW Media
Coupled with nutrition and mindset changes, my health and wellness journey began.
Fitness was my saving grace, she explains.
Adaptive fitness has given me freedom.
I take my wheelchair anywhere and everywhere.
In the past five years, shes inspired many one-on-one clients and countless Instagram followers.
So what would Stracham tell potential future fellow adaptive fitness participants?
Freedom is on the other side of independence.
The more youre capable of doing on your own, the less challenging it feels like with a disability.
Move your body in any way that youre able.
If youre uncertain of where to start, tap into your adaptive fitness community.
They will show you how much more life you’re free to live.
