8月6日VOA聽力：贊助身材生理停滯者的俱樂部
Teamwork is an integral part of the health andfitness program at Spirit Club, most of theparticipants have autism, Down syndrome or otherdevelopmental disabilities.
Jared Ciner created the program two years ago, “Ourmain focus is the same thing as any other gym, which is to help people be active and healthy,the difference is that we do modify a little bit to make sure that it is right pace for the peoplewe are working with, so that everybody can follow along.”
Ciner used to work as a support counselor for a local nonprofit dedicated to helping peoplewith disabilities and as a part-time personal trainer at gyms.
“I noticed that the people who I was working with who had disabilities, many of them were verysedentary, did not exercise, struggled with weight issues, and were looking for more physicaloutlets and more social outlets,” he said.
His volunteer experience in Ethiopia working with children from severely impoverished familieshelped him understand the impact of structured physical programming, too.
"That helped me realize how much organized physical activity can help people become moresocially involved and connected to each other and increase people’s mood and self-esteem,”Ciner said.
Classes at Spirit Club are interactive, and students can come with caregivers. They participatein partnered workouts and learn balance, flexibility, strength, speed and agility. They are alsoencouraged to eat right.
Alan Bradshaw, who is mentally disabled, has been coming to classes for two years. “He recentlylost 21 pounds," said his mother, Jill Bradshaw. "He is more outgoing. He is more flexible.When he first started, he couldn’t sit on the floor, get down on the floor. He is doing that now.”
Valerie Rigaux is also a regular, she has developmental delays. "I like the gym because I canmake friends easily and exercise at the same time,” she said.
Two of Ciner’s assistant trainers have disabilities.
"A really important part of what we are doing is making sure that these opportunities areavailable to all people, regardless their physical ability, mental ability, also their financialsituation," he said.
Ciner is now working on fundraising to increase scholarship opportunities.
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