Nonprofit creates exercise class for people with disabilities
Shelly Stefko was not certain how her daughter, Sam Stefko, would do at her first exercise class Tuesday evening, but she was pleasantly surprised seeing her pass a medicine ball back and forth with her friend, Rachel Bricker.
“They do better with others than they do with us,” Shelly said. “It’s always hard to find things for them to do.”
Sam and Rachel, both of Freeport, participated in an exercise class for people with disabilities at Legacy Wrestling and Fitness in Butler, which Shelly said was a rare find.
Katie Werner, operator and certified personal trainer at Legacy, said the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources initially requested she start a program aimed at people with disabilities. The gym is a relatively new nonprofit, Werner said, where she has been trying to get a program for people with disabilities integrated for years. The weekly program began at the beginning of October, and Werner said she is already planning to carry it on into next year.
Werner also said she has created classes for people with disabilities in the past, and has written a program for this month that can be adapted to beginners as well as people with more a little more experience with exercise.
“It's easier training someone coming in fresh than it is an adult who is set in their ways,” Werner said. “We're going to have breakout stations through class, and we're going to rotate through them. I want them to learn as much as do.”
During the class Tuesday, Werner led the class of 16 people in exercises, mainly through a Simon Says-style game. The exercisers did jumping jacks, stretches and exercise ball games — all to the beat of music. Some participants were in wheelchairs or had walking support devices, but Werner was still able to direct them in arm and body movements.
Ryan Rumbaugh, 21, of Butler, said he enjoyed working out in a class more than doing it at home. He said seeing new people was his favorite part of the class.
Anyone who qualifies for intellectual and developmental disabilities services can attend classes, Werner said. While the fee for the class is $25, people can and have paid that fee through disability waivers obtained through Butler County or the state.
Rachel Bricker’s mom, Lindi Bricker, said the exercise program at Legacy is closer than other physical activity programs she has taken Rachel to in the past. Shelly said the same.
“We would drive them to Indiana for things like bowling,” Shelly said. “We’ll definitely bring them back here.”
Werner said the program has already seen a good response, so she would like it to be a recurring option at Legacy Fitness.
“The amount of popularity it has already gotten, we are going to keep this as a monthly class,” Werner said. “My goal is to make fitness fun for everyone.”
The adapted needs classes take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday, and from 11 a.m. to noon every Wednesday through October. Werner said people can sign up at any time, not wanting to turn anyone away, but there will be a new session starting next month.
For more information on the adapted needs fitness classes, call or text 724-991-7299.
