“Really, Sam?”

“I’m just joking,” he quickly, and authentically apologizes.

“It’s cool, Sam.  You are a funny guy.”

My Sunday group meets in the afternoon in a multi-purpose facility in mid-Long Island. Ranging from 17 to 26-years old, they each have different skill levels and ways of letting me know that they’re having a good time. Pause on that. Yes, a gaggle of young adults with autism are having a damn fine time swinging ropes, pressing dumbbells overhead, throwing medicine balls (without theatrics), and dare I mention, squatting.

Because these are higher functioning participants, there is a great deal of socialization occurring during and between sets of activity. I partner up two athletes on each side of the room for tandem overhead walks, Sandbell slams, and jumps.

There is no activity or environment better for building socialization and self-esteem within an hour. These athletes discuss their music preferences, school situations, job prospects, and, in one case of a big 26-year old guy, when the season finale of “Desperate Housewives” will air. He smiles while walking with a 15lb. dumbbell overhead.

If you don’t think this situation should be available for every young person with autism I’m not quite sure what to say or how to say it. Perhaps you need to come and watch my athletes for an hour. See them move, see them enabled, see them have a good, healthy time.

If Autism Fitness has no other legacy, it will be to create as many of these hours as possible. There won’t be a season finale.

Live Inspired,

-EC

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The May 19th Autism Fitness + Lifestyle Event will feature 3 expert speakers discussing a variety of wellness topics as they related to the autism population.

May 20th will feature the Autism Fitness PAC Profile Workshop, a full-day training on developing and teaching exercise to the ASD population.

Attendees will learn through concept and  hands-on/feet-on practice how to:

-Assess physical, adaptive, and cognitive skills

- Create exercises activities for individuals and groups

- Set short and long-term goals for all three areas of functioning (PAC)

- Strategies for behavior support

- Develop a fun factor for individuals who HATE to move

and plenty more.  Space is limited to 25 participants for optimal learning and 1-to-1 attention.

Register for only $237 PLUS get 50% off the PAC Profile Assessment Toolbox

Visit www.PACProfile.com/seminars.html (or just click on the web address)

Live Inspired,

-EC

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- How to assess Physical, Adaptive, and Cognitive functioning

- Using the PAC Profile to create individual-specific programs

- The 5 Foundations of movement patterns

- The two most important concepts for introducing new fitness activities

- How to deal with challenging behaviors

- Goals for short- and long-term health and fitness

- Fitness programs for groups of individuals with autism

…And so much more.

*Space is limited to 25 attendees per workshop.

For more information and to register, visit www.AutismFitness.com/seminars.html

Live Inspired,

-EC

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Many of my Autism Fitness athletes had or have behavioral problems. From social initiation to full-on public meltdowns, they represent the full range of the autism spectrum.  I would never suggest that fitness and play are an immediate remedy or intervention for problematic behavior. Over months and years, fitness can be a gateway towards increased self-esteem and a greater motivation to socialize with family and/or peers. How long this process takes is going to be relative to the individuals. I started a group fitness class for teenagers with autism several weeks ago. The participants are predominantly high functioning from an adaptive and cognitive perspective, and all are motivated to exercise.

This environment is ideal for increased and quick socialization and development of interpersonal skills. There are no problematic behaviors and the athletes are already motivated to exercise. Those fundamental requirements are already met. Contrast that to my 15-year old non-verbal all-star who wanders away from an activity on a regular basis and a bit more work is needed for fitness success to carry over into other life abilities.

Can exercise enhance other areas of life for the autism population? Absolutely. And the most important include:

-Physical health and gross motor skills

- Cognitive functioning (specifically short-term memory and prepositions)

- Social skills

- Self-esteem

- Creativity

It is important to remember that this is not an automatic occurrence that starts when a medicine ball is thrown back and forth for 3 minutes.  A regular fitness program is necessary for physical health and optimizing all other areas of ability. Fitness will have short, intermediate, and long-term benefits for the autism and any other population. Rather than expecting momentous changes overnight, progressing to where fitness is a regular and fun event will set the foundation for all good things.

Live Inspired,

-EC

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A healthy lifestyle is a proative approach to health rather than reactive. Reactive means that something has already gone wrong. For families, schools, and other establishemnts, now is certainly the time to establish physical activity as a cornerstone of  programming and daily life.

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