While it’s true that anyone and everyone can benefit from being more active, it is incredibly important that those with a visual impairment learn to move well as early as possible!
There are a few barriers to exercise such as difficulty getting around amongst a busy gym environment or the almost impossible task of a competitive sport with friends. In me experience I have found that a well structured gym program can give you the physical and mental skills to tackle anything outside the gym.
As the number of sporting opportunities increases for people with a visual impairment it is imperative that your understanding of how your body moves grows along with this enthusiasm to get involved. Building your body and understanding your strengths and limitations inside the gym will allow you to flourish in a more chaotic and challenging environment.
Growing up with a visual impairment, I understand how hard it can be to get started. While I had many people in my corner who understood the benefits, it can be hard to get started if you have no idea who to talk to or what to do.
One of the main ways we as human learn how to move from a young age is to learn by watching others. For visually impaired children and adolescents this can often mean a significant delay or a complete lack of movement literacy and coordination once they hit adulthood, increasing the risk of acute injury and decreasing the chance that this already vulnerable population will have the confidence to take up exercise later in life.
For those with a visual impairment the gym provides a safe space to exercise in a more structured environment than if the client was to get straight into disability sports. Working to achieve goals through navigating barriers in the gym allows those with a disability to improve their self efficacy and better understand their relationship with their disability. Mable bodied sports having a large visual reactionary component.
The gym allows for most people with a visual impairment to complete similar sessions and smoothly integrate with their able bodied counterparts and engage with another community in ways they would not previously been exposed to.
YOU’VE DECIDED TO GIVE IT A GO. HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN ENTERING THE GYM!
- Own it…
The reasons that you adapt your training add to your story, not detract from it.
- Stay consistent
By the nature of your disability, you’re going to have more setbacks and breakthroughs than the average trainee.
- Find a great coach
Good coaches make adaptations to the program while still making you feel like an equal part of a group session or broader training program. This is exactly what we aim to do here at Foresight!
LET’S SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO!
IF YOUR VISION HAS BEEN STOPPING YOU FROM GETTING INTO SPORT AND EXERCISE THEN LET ME USE MY LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND 8 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY TO DEVELOP YOUR BODY AS WELL AS YOUR MINDSET TOWARDS TRAINING WITH LOW VISION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE, VISIT OUR CONTACT US PAGE HERE.
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