Page 12 - CL winter 2023 for web

fitness

As the year starts, thoughts turn to healthy resolutions. Fitness charity. In my final year of a sports
trainer Jade Mottley advises on making physical activity open to all, science degree, I worked at Mencap
on a sports accessibility programme
and Olympian cyclist Kiera Byland aims to inspire athletes for children. This made me even
more aware of the barriers.
I then did a master’s degree in
Manchester. Standout moments
How to open up fitness to everyone included working at Manchester
United FC’s deaf team, and with
the Special Olympics as a training
lead for its schools programme.
veryone deserves the know how to deal with these. For I worked as a personal trainer
opportunity to take part in trainers, it comes down to and nutrition coach with Special
physical activity, and the confidence; you adapt sessions and Olympian Kiera Byland (see below).
new year is a great time to think outside the box. We raised awareness of disability
Ereflect and hit that reset Both trainer and client have to sport in the north west, talking in
button, writes Jade Mottley. want to have fun, be safe and be schools about activity and diet.
My advice is to start your journey willing to try. Gaining National Lottery funding
today, and know that small steps for this project eventually led me to
– such as going for a quick walk or Adapted sessions set up Performance For All.
eating a piece of fruit – add up. Some people need visual cues added While the most common aim I
Many of those I have worked to a verbal instruction, such as hear is that people want to be
with since launching social counting on the fingers, or sessions healthier, reasons range from
enterprise Performance for All in may need adapting for wheelchair desires to be more confident and
2015 face barriers simply because users. I once turned a wheelchair sociable to losing weight. See
fitness professionals lack experience into a leg extension machine using a someone grow in confidence far
in training people with disabilities. resistance band and a foam cylinder. outweighs what the scales show.
My approach is to ask someone I ran “signed sweat” sessions in To know getting fitter has helped
what they can do, not what lockdown, securing funding for a someone in other areas – such as
they cannot. sign language communicator. by becoming more confident at
Working with a person with My interest in inclusive sport work or going out for walks with
additional needs brings additional began when I was at school, when I family – it makes the 7am training
risks. Some coaches do not want or volunteered for a local disability sessions well worth it. n

‘We need clubs to give us a chance’

he new year is a good to boost healthy lifestyles and Kiera Byland: people
time to start thinking physical activity. with learning
about health and fitness. For people with learning disabilities have a
After having treats at disabilities to get into sport and lot to offer coaches
through their stories
T Christmas and maybe fitness, we need clubs and coaches and experiences
eating more than you ought, you to give us a chance.
may be not doing the exercise you While you might be nervous,
should. New year is the chance to please be inclusive and give it go.
start again and set goals, writes You can learn so much from people
Kiera Byland. like me – we have a lot to offer
My goals for 2023 are to inspire coaches through our own
other Special Olympics athletes to experiences and stories.
have health and fitness goals. This As a cycling and swimming or too low. Setbacks happen, so
includes having good mental health coach, I can give back and inspire take a deep breath and take one
through the Special Olympics Strong others by being a positive role day at a time. n
Minds programme, which teaches model, whether this is helping
mental exercises and provides them just to keep fit and healthy or Kiera Byland is a Special Olympics
resources to boost relaxation and to compete too if they want. six times gold medallist, a swimming
stress management skills. If someone is finding it hard to and cycling coach and a member of
I am also passionate about the reach their sport or fitness goals, I the Special Olympics global athlete Bolton College
Special Olympics’ Fit 5 programme would say: don’t set these too high leadership council

12 Community Living winter 2023 vol 36 no 2