Sci-Fit extra-ordinare! In my 3 years under the spell of this "accidental" illusion, I never worked out any better! No One pushes me as much as the Sci-Fit Body Ticklers, Guards, Motivators, Comedians, Movers, and Trainers DO! I have been working out since late July 2011, and it's a blast! Yes, it hurts!! But come on! If you have been frozen for a long time, who doesn't want to ache because of a stellar workout? I am rushing to say so, now September 2, 2011, but I just can't dismiss the fact that after almost every 2 hour session so far, I feel so tired, I cannot keep my eyes open. I've never needed to sleep more after any workout in the past!
Led in person by the main man, Jerry Rainey, who has in conjunction with Dan, a wonderfully recovered quad, picked a wonderful group of willing and giving, helping hands, impresses me. In fact, I'm planning on asking everyone why they chose to give their bodies and souls this task. These energetic and young adults, very fit themselves, lift people with spinal cord injuries AND other conditions quite often during one hour! Usually, two trainers grab the person from underneath the knees and arm pits, and transport them to the exercise next on the list. This saves a lot of time! Personally, I have been carefully twisted on my stomach, lifted, made to baby walk, slowly lowered, and had a lot of body to body contact. Why? Because I need it. I am described as a quad, so I have a level of paralysis in my hands which they mold around. I always feel comfortable. For protection, and my need to workout with my hands, the trainers wrap tedious, grasping, leather braces on my hands every time I may need them. When they slide off, they adjust them. The patience I see gives me hope. SCI is a patience and endurance game...and this sort of patience comes in multiple levels of difficulty for the person affected and the multiple people involved in our lives.
I am really happy the trainers rotate themselves from person to person. Each hour is accompanied by a different trainer. So, today I may work with Kayla and Mike, and the following day, with Jerry and Brett. I also admire their versatility, if approached with friendliness they do not shy away from joking about and sharing what they did during the weekend. I love to laugh! And I am all laughed out by the time I say "See you next time!" You have to participate though :)
I want to mention of course the incredible ways of different exercises that happen at Sci-Fit. They put 24hr Gym to shame...! Creativity IS needed to come up with ways to facilitate workouts for paralyzed folks, and it's not missing here. Strapping to machines, hoisting up for gait training, and ski boot huggers attached to a gliding machine are just a few examples.
I want to give you a glimpse of Sci-Fit because it has touched me, and I want to encourage you to at least give it a shot. I am buffer than ever, well, since I've been paralyzed and muscles have atrophied. If you think and feel you will walk, don't give up. Rehab is the perfect medicine, better than Baclofen. If movement doesn't return, but you try, it'sgreat because it still keeps you in shape. Results may just not happen, but through time, I'm sure they happen.
I love all and everyone I meet and met at Sci-Fit! We're folks that have been given a chance to live, and not necessarily a chance to recover, but times and things are definitely moving and changing.
Sci-Fit! Thank you for the awesome workout this week!
I'll exhaust myself every time I'm in, after all, it's one of the safest spots on earth, and most happening for a living with SCI brave heart. Thank you for humoring me every time I'm there. Adds years to my life! read more