Nevada Gym Offers “Adaptive Fridays” Class for Everyday Members
Seated Ski-Erg pulls and arms-only Echo bike cals are just some modifications adaptive athletes often face.
- Very rarely do everyday CrossFitters have to consider such changes to a workout, which is partly why nonprofit CrossFit affiliate Upstate Nevada has started to host a class where all members have to perform workouts the way an adaptive athlete would.
Some background: Kyla Romero, the manager at Upstate Nevada, started doing “Adaptive Fridays” just this year after wanting to show more support for the adaptive community.
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Upstate Nevada is a nonprofit gym that provides reduced-price and free memberships to “Everyday Heroes.”
- Half-price memberships are offered to first responders, military personnel, teachers, and nurses.
Free memberships are provided for children, teens, and adults with physical and cognitive impairments and their families.
- “The last Friday of every month, we have all of our classes perform a workout the way an adaptive athlete would,” Romero tells the Morning Chalk Up in an interview. “So that could be seated where we have everybody sit on a box and do a whole workout seated on a box or without the use of their legs.”
The workouts vary each month and feature equipment or modified movements that adaptive athletes use, depending on how the workout is programmed.
- “It’s just our way of showing support and bringing awareness to the disability community and also bringing awareness to the ability that these individuals have,” Romero says.
What they’re saying: The members have responded well to the class and look forward to joining each month, Romero says.
At first, she surprised the members by programming the adaptive workout without warning, but now the community knows it’s coming and what the workout is going to be.
The class size is about normal or even bigger during the “Adaptive Fridays.”
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Upstate Nevada originated in 2019 and has since flourished into a space for athletes from all backgrounds.
The gym has approximately 50-100 people who receive free memberships and has grown exponentially over the last couple of years. This is especially true of its adaptive program, which is serving more than 50 athletes.
- “We have adaptive classes for our friends with intellectual disabilities. Those with physical disabilities can come to our group classes, and we provide extra coaching support for them,” Romero says.
She added that adaptive members are welcome to all classes in the greater community and coaches can provide the extra support necessary.
A bit of reflection: It isn’t easy for adaptive athletes to find the right modification to fit their needs while maintaining the stimulus or intent of the workout.
Oftentimes, accessories or on-the-fly modifications are necessary.
Romero points out that doing these workouts during Adaptive Fridays is extremely humbling and really puts things into perspective for the everyday members:
- “I think it makes us really grateful for the bodies we have. It’s definitely a win-win; we gain respect and awareness for what adaptive athletes go through daily and then we also gain gratitude for our bodies and the way they can function,” Romero says.
No one is ever turned away, and if someone needs extra assistance or special care, they find a way to make it happen.
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One last thing: The gym has grown so much that it’s looking to expand to a larger space soon.
Upstate Nevada accepts outside donations to help facilitate its programs. If you’re part of an organization looking to donate or support its efforts, please reach out to Upstate Nevada directly.
Featured image: Matt Llanos