A good teacher sets high expectations for achievement; they provide the vision, knowledge, and a plan to move ahead. When I work with a new professional, I am looking for certain qualities. Are they a Maverick… the out- of- the box thinker that recognizes the need for a different lens when dealing with a disability? Do they have a willingness and a level of skill to try different approaches? Do they have patience, confidence, and an ability to provide direction?
Posts Tagged 'fitness'
“Beyond the Box” Part II
Tagged with: disability fitness Healthcare Professionals teaching
The People Factor
Tagged with: consideration dignity disability disparity etiology fitness personal trainer I came across an old photograph from 1979. In the picture, I am lying across a therapy ball that is about four times my size. My Dad is swaying me back and forth on the ball, performing my nightly stretching exercises. The exercises were designed to keep my leg muscles loose and pliable.
Honor your Biggest Fan: Do You Have a Number 1 Fan?
Tagged with: fitness health Right Fit I still remember the day when Mack Nelson came into Right Fit and asked to speak to the owner. As one of the trainers approached my office, Mack who was right behind stepped in front to ask, “Do you remember me Mrs. Gray?” At first glance I couldn’t imagine who this big guy was, wearing his high school Varsity sport jacket. Finally remembering, I shook my head in disbelief and announced proudly to others that Mack was one of our first clients!
Oldies but Goodies
Tagged with: fitness older adults Driving back from Michigan this weekend I found myself enjoying music from the different radio stations especially WLS 94.7 with local DJ, Tom O’Toole. I turned up the radio louder and louder as I found myself singing along with many of the selected songs.
Lyrics from the song like “Touch Me” by the Doors seem to deliver messages with meanings that change each year and each decade of my life. Just like favorite songs always being your favorite songs, there’s another constant in life and that is we’re all growing older and I do believe better (and wiser). What I enjoy most about the fitness business is working with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Finding a balance in exercise and play
Tagged with: challenging enjoyment fitness motivating participation play sports
The fitness industry understands only too well that many people will register for programs may be attend a few practices, then drop-out, or some cases simply not show up. The best of intentions require a long commitment to see the goal fulfilled. For some organizations, their goal is to sell lengthy membership terms – often well in excess of their capacity if all members attended at the same time – in order to maximize profits. Such business models rely on the fluctuating motivations of their members. Some fitness clubs / groups sports, especially those that have a fitness or weight loss focus, will expect a lack of exercise adherence from many of their participants, and a few – unethically – will not do much about it.
The Taste of Chicago: A New Found Playground
Tagged with: exercise fitness Physical Activity Taste of Chicago Who doesn’t love summer in Chicago? The Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, concerts, museums and more! Right Fit Sport Fitness Wellness received an invitation to perform fitness activities at this year’s Taste of Chicago. Twenty years ago my main focus was sampling lots of food from favorite restaurants and listening to all those great bands along the city’s beautiful lakefront. This year, Right Fit agreed to organize and instruct family fitness sessions during the opening day of the 2011 Taste. Trainers, Jennifer Day, Kim Mueller and I were launched into our first session “Every Body Can Dance” and it became easy to create an atmosphere full of fun and energy with selected upbeat music. Right Fit’s tent and demonstration area soon became “the playground” and we challenged everyone to Get in Shape and show First Lady Michelle Obama that Chicago understands the importance of family fitness! Next we played “Move Your Body” and immediately the children, parents, and grandparents were moving and enjoying each other on their new found playground.
Lights – Camera – Action!
Tagged with: Autism children class fitness raise the bar Karen Meyers, Contributing Reporter for WLS-TV Channel 7, dropped in for a visit to Right Fit Friday, May 20, 2011. Karen’s primary purpose was to see our facility and observe the “Raise the Bar” class, which is our award-winning 60-minute fitness class for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. What a great opportunity we now had to share with WLS-TV’s viewers what Right Fit does to help these children increase their fitness levels.
A Very Special Physical Education Class
Tagged with: disability fitness health physical education Research has found that youth with developmental disabilities tend to be less fit than their nondisabled peers, and I do fear the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle for these children and their families. Maybe if more of us could believe the simple things we see and take time to apply these practices, daily positive results would come with a lot less effort and time.
The Up & Down Emotions of a Diagnosis Part III: The Ongoing Battle of Acceptance
Tagged with: awareness diagnosis disability exercise fitness Physical Activity recreation wheelchair Up until that day I thought I had a good handle on my MS diagnosis. Up until today, I thought I’ve learned to accept it. I have not.
