FITBuddies

by Jen Pleimann

It is 4:20pm on Monday and I’m in the back room getting ready for FITBuddies.

“Hi Jen!"

It is like clockwork. I can see Spencer walking thru the front doors of FIT. He has barely made it inside as he calls my name across the gym. I smile as I hear him say hello to all the trainers on his way back to change.

***

Many of you have been at FIT on a Monday or Wednesday and have seen FITBuddies in action. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting these special individuals, I would like to introduce you to FITBuddies.

FITBuddies is a small training group for special individuals, predominantly Down Syndrome, who meet every Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:30. Currently, I am working with four individuals, ages thirteen to twenty two, three of which have been together now for a year and a half.

I am frequently asked questions about FITBuddies concerning the purpose of the program, the physical capability of these individuals, and the progress and changes I have seen. This month, as FIT highlights the FIT Buddies’ program and these special individuals my goal is to answer these questions and share what I experience on a ‘typical’ Monday or Wednesday from 4:30-5:30pm.

***

As I walk up front, I see Jeremy reading the sports page and Spencer waving his arms at me.

"Hi Jen! Time for FITBuddies! Did you watch the Shark’s game last night? Jen, there’s one, two, three FITBuddies so far."

Before I have a chance to answer his question, Xenia comes dancing thru the front doors. She runs over and gives me the world’s biggest hug.

"It’s my little rock star!!" I say to her as I return the hug.

"I not a rock star! I Xenia!!" She responds, giggling.

"Jen, its 4:31. There’s one… two… three… FOUR FITBuddies now. We’re late! Can we get started now?" Spencer says.


***

How it all started. After several years of volunteering, working as a behavioral therapist, and working as a personal attendant for individuals with a variety of special needs, I repeatedly saw a lack of physical activity in a population that could greatly benefit from it. There is a vast amount of literature stressing the importance of physical activity for those with Down Syndrome to help improve "hypermobility of the joints, obesity rates (as it is prevalent in this population), an underdeveloped respiratory and cardiovascular system, and poor balance and perceptual difficulties"(Rimmer, 1993, NCPAD); yet, there are very few resources available to them.

In the field of special education, there are a number of great therapist, special ed teachers, and parents who are constantly trying to implement some form of structured physical activity; they see the need and potential yet lack the knowledge in the area of health and fitness. In the field of health and fitness, there are a number of knowledgeable trainers and coaches but many are not trained to work with this special population or are possibly unaware of their potential. Kenneth Pitetti states in "What is Known about Physical Fitness and Down Syndrome":

"If given the time to adjust to a testing environment, the staff, and the time to practice test protocols or exercise procedures, persons with DS (Down Syndrome) have sufficient motor skills and intellectual capacity to adequately perform these activities."

In other words, if given the OPPORTUNITY individuals with Down Syndrome have the ABILITY to participate in structured physical activity if those implementing the program are willing to take the TIME. FITBuddies was started to create this OPPORTUNITY.

***

"Time to get started. Warm up is on the board," I tell them.

"500 meter row. My faaavorite." says Spencer. "Jen, can I sing my rowing song?

He begins chanting before I can even answer, "legs, arms, arms, legs. Legs, arms, arms, legs."

"Xenia, let’s try to go a little faster please."

"But Jen, I am faster!!" She replies.

"Nice work Jeremy! Keep going!!" I cheer them all on.

"Aw, thanks Jen, thanks for your nice words." Jeremy stops mid pull to thank me.

They then begin their body weight squats as Spencer collapses to the dynamax ball, Jeremy begins performing a quarter of his normal squat (and counting, as always, at the top of his lunges) and Xenia is standing with her hands behind her head, elbow covering her face exclaiming how "this is too hard!!" After six months, I thought we had perfected the squat but I take a deep breadth and regroup.

"OK, everybody STOP. Jeremy, show me your REAL squat please. Spencer, cross your arms, place your hands on your shoulders and do not take your eyes off the wall."

I walk over to Xenia; we do a little dance to get her laughing and I hold her hands as she does one squat with me.

"I did it. I did it!!" She exclaims as she begins laughing at my dance moves. "You so silly, Jen."

***

After a year and a half, some parts of FITBuddies are completely predictable and at times I have no idea what to expect. I know I will get the updates on the Sharks or Giants from Spencer every session. Jeremy will fill me in on life as a "working man" at Starbucks and consistently reminds me how hard he likes to work at FITBuddies. I can guarantee I will receive at least fifteen hugs in an hour from Xenia. I can almost always count on hearing how excited they are to row or run because "it’s their faaavorite!" Xenia will tell me at least once, "It’s too hard" and then as we do her first rep together will yell, “I did it, I did it!” Most importantly, the three of them ALWAYS walk through the door with a smile on their faces, ready to go and at the end of the hour tell me they can’t wait until next time.

This predictability and consistency is what makes it easy to work through every unpredictable moment: When asked to perform a body weight squat (an exercise we had perfected after six months), the three look like they are doing it for the first time. Give them common cues, such as “keep your head up,” “chest up,” “heels on the ground,” and you’ll often see them drop their head, round their back and lean forward on their toes. I have to be creative to increase their awareness of their body and their movements. Give them familiar cues, though, and surely they’re back on track.

Since day one, these three have challenged my training in a variety of ways. It has been a process of learning to control the chaos as needed, and letting it be chaotic when appropriately safe. It involves training a group while tending to very individual needs. For example, Spencer has to “stand up tall” every time he mentions the Sharks or the Giants, as we work on his posture. Jeremy does not like to be corrected and will pretend he understands what I have said even when he is extremely confused. Visuals always work better, unless, of course, you are cheering him on. Xenia needs constant appraisal and slight humorous distractions. This may involve holding her hand and doing a rep or two with her while, between sets, dancing with her as we sing along to Britney Spears.

At the end of the day, the one thing that has helped FITBuddies tackle every obstacle and given them the ABILITY to perform most of the exercises you and I do is TIME. I am often told "you must have all the patience in the world to work with individuals with special needs." If this is referring to the ability to deal with individuals who 100% WANT to be able to do what I ask and who have the ABILITY but simply are not able to process it as quickly as others, then yes, I guess I am patient. In my opinion, this is easy. I don’t care if it took us three months to perfect the body weight squat, six months to jump rope, or a year to learn the snatch balance because these individuals have proven if given the TIME they absolutely have the ABILITY.

"Water Break!"

Jeremy spots ‘Coach Rob’ and heads over to give him a high five and give him trouble for the day.

"Jeremy, shouldn’t you be working. Why are you resting" Coach Rob asks Jeremy

"Get real Coach Rob. I’m a working man and I’m on a break!!"

Xenia then comes in to join the fun. "Beauty and the Beast! Beauty and the Beast!" She chants as she starts hysterically laughing (referring to Coach Rob and Serena).

Spencer runs over to give his high five as well. "Hi Rob. Did you watch the Sharks game last night?”

From day one, Thom, Tracey and all the trainers at FIT have been extremely supportive of FITBuddies. Because of their support, FIT has become much more than a gym to Xenia, Spencer, and Jeremy. It is a place where they can go and have fun. A place where they can socialize with peers, fellow trainers and other clients and everyone is welcoming. It is a place where they can go and receive a structured physical activity program in a fun, safe and effective manner. FIT is a place where they can be treated like everyone else.

It’s 5:30pm and time to go. As I start to put things away, I catch Jeremy flexing his arms as he checks himself out in the mirror.

"Looking good Jeremy," I tell him as I give him a playful nudge.

He looks up at me, smiles and says, "Jen, You touch my heart."

Xenia has now positioned herself in front of the mirror. As she puts her hands on her hips she turns from one side to the next. The next thing I know she is running at me screaming, "Jen, just look at me, I look amazing!!"

Once again, I get the world’s biggest hug from Spencer. "Bye, Jen, GREAT workout! I just saw you MONDAY, now I’ll see you WEDNESDAY and you will get to see my mom on FRIDAY!”

The three of them give each other high fives and hugs and walk out the door leaving me smiling from ear to ear.

***

FITBuddies was started to create an OPPORTUNITY for special individuals who deserve the same resources in terms of health and fitness as the rest of us. It is about noticing that these individuals have the ABILITY to participate in a structured program similar to yours and mine. When provided with the opportunity and the appropriate guidance they will learn, they will grow, and they will CHANGE. FITBuddies is a program that "trains the athlete in everyBUDDY."

Ref: Kenneth H. Pitetti, Ph.D., FACSM. What is Known about Physical Fitness and Down Syndrome.