A local gym has been on a simple, yet powerful mission with amazing success: to make fitness accessible to everyone, from seasoned fitness enthusiasts to extending a hand and connecting with those who have never stepped into a gym.
“We started brainstorming as a team how we could be an adaptable gym and connect with those who usually wouldn’t use a gym but could benefit from sessions, we thought about who in the community we could support,” Align Functional-Fitness gym founder and trainer Brianna Wehner explains.
A team member was familiar with Richmond-based Pinnacle House, a Christian faith-based charitable trust that serves those with high-needs disabilities and knew that they could benefit, so discussions were held with collaboration seeing the gym host their first session around 18 months ago.
“The sessions involve an obstacle course and mobility warm-ups. Through trials we have found that participants will spend longer and gain more from exercises they enjoy, so we offer self-driven supported exercise,” Brianna says.
Four trainers work with the group to help and make modifications when needed.
“From the first gym session to now we can see amazing results, participants use the equipment more confidently, their ability to interact has improved greatly and they have more body awareness.”
Pinnacle House assistant manager Carla Milson says the benefits and changes they have noticed in participants are incredible.
“Participants are fitter, stronger, with more balance and coordination. We have had feedback from families who say they are steadier getting in and out of cars, more independent around the house, as well as getting up and down from the floor without help.”
Weekly sessions now have elements of variation in them to keep it interesting and build on subtly making the movements harder, to increase balance and coordination.
“It’s great to reduce the risk of falls and injuries, especially while out and about.”
Brianna says the sessions have been so successful that already a new group of participants from Pinnacle House have started attending.
“When we started the gym and these programmes, we didn’t fully appreciate the direction it was all going in, seeing how excited participants are when they come here, and having the freedom to be able to adapt for these individual people and their abilities is incredible.”
