Ways to Stay Fit & Beat the Heat
Workout Cool: Ways to Stay Fit & Beat the Heat
By Annabel V Sclippa
Stay cool and FIT through the sizzling Arizona summer, with the help of online workouts and indoor facilities. Specifically: Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center in Phoenix, which is for ALL abilities. This is one of the largest state-of-the-art plus fully- accessible Fitness Centers, that I have seen. And it comes complete with pools, spa tub, extensive gym with classes and trainers, basketball courts and a full size track.
I recently visited to meet one of their teachers and personal coaches, Justin Graham, creator of WOW (Wonder on Wheels) Wheelchair Fitness. Justin is a Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Fitness Nutrition Specialist and many other more specific official trainings, such as a Seated Exercise Certification. He has been working with the disability community since 2018, but caters to all.
“Sitting, standing, rolling, I develop plans for folks from elderly to kids. My first WOW was developed for a client in one of my adult fitness classes whose daughter has Spinal Bifida and she wanted a program for her daughter to enjoy. She was too young for a personal trainer, and didn’t fit in to workout classes with kids her age.”
The first WOW class at ABILITY360 was in February of 2019 “at 5pm on Fridays, known as ‘Happy Hour.’” At that time, people would just show up and dance. “I developed it for movement, music, motivation and feeling good – not about doing anything ‘right.’ My inspiration and entire goal is to lift people up.” Then COVID hit and closed the in-person Happy Hour, and WOW Online was launched, so Justin could continue to spread the inspiration.
I have been taking his online classes for almost three years, and sharing them with friends. It is a great way to stay fit when you can’t leave the house to workout, for whatever reason: physical challenges, extreme heat warnings, time constraints, et al.
With a range from Zumba to Yoga, the online WOW courses are a flat monthly fee of only $25, which gives you an “on demand” option as well as “live” classes. Since Justin also manages to make it to every Abilities Expo national-wide, sometimes others fill in for him, and his online WOW incorporates numerous instructors.
To meet up with him and be there onsite at Ability360, was something to behold. The second story track laps the two basketball courts, and has workout stations in each corner. It feels vast, and is so well-kept, plus with the cool air, that it truly inspires one to start moving along it. It’s .1 mile, so 10 laps makes a mile. I saw a family doing laps with their baby in its stroller there. You do not need to be disabled to join – all are welcome. What a great way to take a walk as a family and beat the heat!
At the gym area, in amongst the free weights and nautilus, are many of the exercise bikes (Krankcycles!) of the breed I need to use, to help my arms move my legs, and keep both in motion. Also stationary hand bikes, et al. Stretching the length of it, is the studio for the in-person classes, complete with all the props and whistles one might need from bands to mats.
I was also drawn to the pools, and I have a feeling they keep their chair lifts into them functional, with batteries charged. This doesn’t happen at most hotels and resorts, so I look forward to knowing I will have full access.
There is a magic in the full-body freedom of being out of my wheelchair for a spell. Yet, with my spasticity from my spinal cord injury, and at times arm weakness from Rheumatoid Arthritis, I can struggle in the water trying to get a workout on my own. No worries, as Justin pointed out, they have, for a supplemental fee to the the fitness center’s entry, a range of professionally trained staff for private coaching and training sessions.
While there, I also ran (rolled?) into the buoyant and beautiful Kaitlyn, whom I have met on the trail, during an Ability360 outing in the late winter when it was still cool enough outside. Kaitlyn Verfuerth, MS, CTRS, PLY is 360 Outdoors Program Manager, for Outdoor Programs and Athletics, and spearheads access for all, to activities from boating to tennis, trail-riding to fishing, and all things in between.
For all Ability360 memberships and details, I recommend setting up an appointment for a tour. The grounds are exceedingly accessible. I appreciate a place that allows you to roll along a pathway in front of the parked cars, and not need to roll through a parking lot behind them, as they might back out. This is true accessible foresight at the commercial architectural level.
You may also visit their website:
https://ability360.org/sports/
Once you are a member, their handy APP allows you to see and sign up for a broad range of group classes. Yes, even Pickleball. The rates can NOT be beat. For those with disabilities it is $25 a month, and most insurance cover it. For veterans it is $25 A YEAR. For those without a disability, $35 a month.
For more extended advocacy, accessibility and other functional assistance needs I found, digging further, that ABILITY360 certainly is what their name says, offering services from Home Care to Employment, with Fitness wedged somewhere in the middle. Visit their services page here to learn more, or to donate and keep a great cause growing:
https://ability360.org/about-ability360/.
To sign up for Justin’s WOW programs, visit his website https://www.wowwheelchairfitness.com/.
I guarantee you will not be able to keep a frown on your face, or a grumpy in your heart while partaking in his course. As Justin says, “Even if you make it once, it is a 100% improvement from not making it ever.” I will tell you that my friends and I concur. Every time we show up on our computers and WOW together, we leave feeling inspired and accomplished and full of good Justin juju. Upbeat, kind, understanding, and professionally-trained to help you feel better through fitness, his smile will Beam You Up. Warning: you might become addicted.
