Visiting a gym for the first time can be a daunting experience for some. The IFI recognises this and encourages accredited facilities to ensure that the process is truly inclusive for all.
When visiting an accredited facility, there are features to make this an inclusive service.
Getting Started
Facilities receive a disability equality course for all staff who are involved with servicing customers to attend. This focuses upon disability equality and awareness, ensuring staff increase their knowledge and awareness about disability and disabled people.
All facilities are encouraged to have an inclusive induction policy. Within many fitness suites, inductions are mandatory. However, it is generally acknowledged that the format of inductions can, at times, leave new users confused and frustrate previous gym members who have swapped gyms.
At most fitness suites, users are required to complete a pre activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q). The IFI encourages fitness suite staff to provide assistance with this questionnaire as it can be often confusing, with difficult medical terms used. Taking the time to go through each question with users will help to ensure that the information collected is accurate.
An induction has significance in terms of teaching safe and correct technique on individual pieces of equipment and individual exercises. Since many pieces of equipment do not show adaptations that can be made for disabled people, or adaptations to stretches, the induction should be seen as an invaluable tool for providing information to disabled people.
In the fitness suite
Once you have had your induction and you have an understanding of how everything works, it is time to have a personalised fitness programme written by one of the fitness instructors at the facility.
The IFI recommends that instructors are qualified to at least level 2 in the discipline(s) they instruct (eg gym, exercise to music), are registered with the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS) and hold one of the additional modules at either level 2 (Level 2 Award in Supervising Exercise with Disabled People) or Level 3 (Level 3 Award in Exercise Programming with Disabled People).
This will help to ensure the instructor has adequate knowledge about appropriate exercise supervision and safe exercise selection for a range of users. Programmes in alternative formats will be available upon request, however it is important to remember that instructors are there to help and advise if you have a question at any point.
After 6-8 weeks, most users will be ready to re-evaluate their fitness programme. This is due to readdressing your goals and creating more motivation. It is also an opportunity for a new challenge and the chance to use new equipment and check your techniques are correct to get the most out of your workout.
The equipment
Each IFI accredited facility provides what we call a 'minimum package'. This selection of equipment ensures that a user, despite their disability or impairment, will be able to have a full body workout. The minimum package consists of one treadmill, one bike, an upper body ergometer, one leg curl, one leg extension or leg press and a multi station. Additionally, a range of small equipment should be provided.
Hopefully, you will now see that getting active in the fitness suite does not need to be intimidating, and can in fact be rewarding. For more information on the benefits of physical activity, please click here.
