The Gym is a Two Way Street

The fitness world is exceptionally intimidating as it is. It looks as if there are buff guys slamming weights, girls with tiny waists, and big booties from the outside. Fitness brands like Nike, whose slogan says "just do it." Unfortunately, it's not that simple. A healthy physical and mental life as one suffering from a chronic illness fitness needs to be way more sought out. The gym often shames those who cannot work out in ways that an abled body member can, leading to separation and isolation from the physical fitness community. The fitness community is highly lacking in including those who struggle with accessibility. There is not enough information for the disabled to use the equipment as tailored to their disability. This kind of bias promotes stigmatism that needs to be avoided.

As someone who goes to the gym pretty much every day, I see that it is hard to use the equipment when I get surgery, and therefore neglecting my physical health during recovery, even when that is the most critical time to focus on your health. I find this so frustrating, demeaning; especially when this is an industry I love. I know that so many people feel left out of the fitness industry because they feel neglected and neglect the gym. To get some statistics in there, the ADA recommended that most there should be accessible parking and ramps, but that is only enough to get you in the door. Now once you're in… what do you do? You can not fit through the equipment when walking around unless every machine is 36 inches apart. Therefore, without even trying to use the accessible only equipment, you can't even get past it! According to the journal Spinal Cord, one hundred fifty minutes a week is recommended, and at least 75 minutes of hardcore activity. However, only one-third of people with disabilities perform leisure activities.

Going to the gym is a two-way street. The gym needs to be accommodated to you, and you need to adjust to it; however, only one part needs to change. The gym needs to start adapting to the disabled because that is the only way we will attend. There needs to be equipment that can be modified, there need to be instructional classes taught for people with disabilities, and there need to be basic accommodations further than what the ADA requires us to have.