Blog: "It is fantastic to help motivate others in fitness"
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday through the year. In 2017 we'll be sharing the experiences of disabled people on their journey to being more active. This week, Joe Harman, 28, who founded Breaking Barriers, talks about his own experiences and how he aims to engage more disabled people positively in fitness.
After I was seriously injured in a motorbike accident in 2010, I went through four years of rehabilitation to overcome physical and cognitive difficulties. It was a tough time for my family and I, and one of the ways I found helped me to cope was through fitness. I began running and was able to train for marathon distances, which helped me physically and mentally. As I progressed, I wanted to do more in fitness and so I completed a gym instructor-training course with Instructability.
I initially began working in a large gym focused on helping other disabled people. I became passionate about this work and began completing more training courses to become a Disability and Exercise Referral Personal Trainer and Sports Massage Therapist. I set up my own business- Breaking Barriers in Buckinghamshire. It provides specialised personal training and sports massage for people with injuries or disabilities in a one-to-one gym.
Personal training (with an appropriately qualified trainer) can be for anyone, regardless of injury or disability. It can be about fitness, but it can also be about improving or managing the specific physical limitations you may have through exercises, strength building, etc. In my personal training, I focus on helping people with injuries and impairments through rehabilitation, re-enablement and fitness activities.
Because of my own experiences, I believe in motivating and inspiring others to achieve more than they think is possible as well as helping everyone access regular fitness and exercise activities. I understand first-hand what it is like to get into exercise after an injury and I use my experience to help my clients. The focus is on making all my training sessions fun, challenging and individual for my clients.
Breaking Barriers is based in Buckinghamshire. We provide services within our one-to-one private gym facilities, as well as being able to provide sessions within clinic spaces or a client’s home. The state of the art private gym is fully equipped with specifically selected gym equipment, in built sound system, and specialised lighting- including the disco experience!
Working out with specialised personal training can be something everyone can do. Every session can be different and enjoyable. We can tailor sessions to work with a person’s individual needs for fitness, strength, toning, weight, mobility, and flexibility, or reducing aches, pains and stiffness. It is fantastic to help motivate others and keep people going when they are finding it tough. Making sure they get exactly what they want from every exercise session with their own specific goals is really fulfilling.
If you want to get fit, get stronger, reduce physical discomfort, improve use of a limb or ability to walk… or whatever your physical goal is- go for it! Look for a gym that has specialised instruction for helping people with injuries or impairments. Find a qualified personal trainer who can help guide you with the right specialised experience and advice. Break through your own barriers and you can achieve your physical or fitness goals!
