Sometimes when someone has a disability, they may think there is no way for them to exercise or stay active. If you have had a disability all your life or only for a limited amount of time, you may not even know there are a variety of ways people with disabilities can exercise and have fun participating in recreational activities. This post will share 5 benefits of adaptive fitness and how participating in one of the many activities available can help lead you to your next fun adventure.
Adaptive fitness is a way that people with disabilities can get involved in fitness, sports and other activities that are available in a modified form so that someone with varying limitations can participate.
Activities ranging from scuba diving, zip lining or even self-defense classes can be modified so people with a range of limitations can experience different activities. Adaptive fitness is a way for individuals with disabilities to open the door to a whole new set of experiences, learning opportunities and even friends. When you think of adaptive fitness, you may automatically think of Special Olympics.
Special Olympics is an important organization that serves a variety of functions in communities throughout the world. It gives many people with disabilities an array of options to participate in various sports and compete in different events. They raise awareness surrounding people with disabilities and spearhead many different initiatives around health and inclusion. Through all of this, adaptive fitness is a hidden gem that offers many advantages to its participants as well.
If there are people with disabilities that are familiar with adaptive fitness, they might feel like the options are few or that there is nothing in the world of adaptive fitness that can work for them. The truth is that there are so many options to pick from in the world of adaptive fitness, your excitement will begin even before you participate.
Empower yourself. There is nothing better in the world than having the opportunity to empower yourself. Adaptive fitness gives you the chance to do just that. Getting involved in your favorite activity or learning a new one shows you firsthand that you can do anything you put your mind to. That frame of reference can be utilized in many areas of your life.
Get fit. Who doesn’t want to get fit? One of the misconceptions an individual with disability may have to contend with is that people with disabilities are sickly and cannot lead an active life. Some people incorrectly feel like people with disabilities are unhealthy just because they have a disability. They also might be under the impression that people with disabilities are not interested in being healthy individuals or they cannot participate in any type of activities. The truth is that just because someone has a disability does not mean they cannot get fit or be healthy. It is important to consult your doctor before starting any fitness routine to make sure it is right for you. Increasing your fitness level can help you increase or maintain your quality of life and take care of your overall health.
Socialize. Adaptive fitness activities give you a chance to get out and meet new people. Getting out to socialize has many health benefits for anyone including people with disabilities. The social interaction that happens during adaptive fitness activities also allows you to expand not only your network of friends, but also gives you an opportunity to expand your support group. Meeting new people at an adaptive fitness class or other inclusive activity that might include people with and without disabilities opens the door to learning about people, other disabilities and can even help raise awareness about your own disability.
Learn what you can do. When people hear the word disability, they might automatically go to what people can’t achieve. Adaptive fitness has a variety of activities for people to try and see what they might be interested in doing with their free time. There are varying modifications that are made to the activities so that everyone, no matter what their disability, can have a chance to participate and learn about what they can do with just some simple adjustments. It is important to stay focused on what you can do rather than the limitations that are in front of you.
Expand your circle (of experience). Life is all about having different experiences. As a person with a disability, this is no different. Sometimes when you grow up with a disability or if you acquire one later in life, participating in adaptive fitness can help you have experiences where you learn lessons about things that can help you navigate other parts of your life. You can gain or sharpen your skills in learning how to incorporate concepts like teamwork, time management and determination into your life because of the experiences you gain during your time participating in one of the activities.
Now the only thing left to do is research what type of adaptive fitness activities are available in your area. Don’t miss out on a chance to have different experiences you may not have thought could be possible.
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