Florida county offers fitness classes for people with developmental disabilities

From The Miami Herald:

For a person with a developmental disability, finding ways to stay fit can be a lonesome venture. Typical fitness classes or sports teams can be difficult to follow or keep up with, and exercising alone can be unmotivating and well, lonely.

But a free physical fitness program for developmentally disabled people 16 and older aims to get people moving while giving them a social outlet. The Broward County Parks and Recreation Division's Special Populations Section offers the fitness classes nearly year-round, said Rich Newman, special projects coordinator.

The county has offered the fitness classes for about 20 years, Newman said, but the program has been updated in the past year. ``We have added weights and different variations, such as more yoga poses and stretching,'' said Newman, who also teaches the classes. ``Stretching improves balance.''

With popular dance music coming from his boom box, Newman leads participants in a routine that begins with stretches, picks it up with low-impact aerobics and throws in a line dance or chicken dance just for fun.

``I like to play music that they like and that motivates them,'' Newman said. ``It lifts their spirits and takes their mind off their fatigue and makes it more fun.''

Starting slowly with some mat work, Newman said the exercises can be modified for those with limited mobility. ``I break it down, go slow and adapt it to whatever they can do. If they can't do crunches, we will have them do something else. If they can't lay on a mat, they can sit on a chair and do leg lifts or lift weights with their arms,'' he said. ``They just need to give it a try. As long as they're moving, it's all good.''

Newman said he provides general supervision for the group. ``If someone needs one-on-one assistance, they can bring a caregiver or helper,'' he said. The class uses mats for both floor work and step exercises; hand weights work arm, shoulder and back muscles.

Jennifer Hurvitz, 30, of Sunrise joined the class in July to lose a few pounds and spend time with friends. ``I exercise by walking around my complex, but it gets boring,'' she said. ``I want to be with people. I'm a people person. Plus, this is free. It's hard to find free stuff.''

Classmate Lorraine Nilson, 42, of Cooper City said she has attended the fitness classes since 1989. ``The best thing about the class is that I feel it the next day,'' she said. ``It's a social thing, but I do it mostly to stay fit.''

Davie resident Marilyn Wessel sits in the back of the class with other parents and caregivers while she watches daughter, Barbara, 43, exercise. ``I think it has helped her a lot,'' Wessel said. ``Just in basic things like following directions.''

Newman said at the end of a session, everyone leaves in a happy mood.

``The goal is to promote socialization, to have a good time as well as promote physical fitness,'' Newman said. ``It all goes hand in hand. I don't want them to sit there stagnant. I want them to get going.''