Autism and fitness breaking down barriers
Originally published in Network Magazine - Fitness Network Australia Spring 2018 http://www.fitnessnetwork.com.au/resources/magazines It is widely recognised that taking part in physical activity not only helps to keeps us fit and well, it can increase self-esteem, develop social skills and improve mental health and general well-being. However, research shows that people with autism are less likely than others to participate in sport or physical activity due to factors related to the condition, including heightened fear and anxiety in social situations, difficulty understanding body language and metaphor, and sensory challenges. In my former role as coordinator of the National Autistic Society’s (NAS) Active for Autism project...
“But I only train general population…”
This is a sentence commonly spoken within today’s health and fitness industry. Many newly qualified Personal Trainers may find themselves thrown into the rat race of a large commercial gym soon after completing their certificate. The reasons for seeking their services may differ from client to client, but the initial perspective of the trainer usually remains the same – ‘most of my clients are general population’. This isn’t to say that this is a negative outlook to have, however when you begin the process of labelling your clients as ‘general population’ then it is easy to make false assumptions about...
Motivation vs Discipline
“I’m not motivated”. I’ve lost motivation”. “What is my motivation”? In the health and fitness industry these phrases are used on a daily basis; normally when someone fails to commit to a health and exercise regime or starts one and then fails to continue. I’m sure we all know someone or have been that someone who signs up to a gym, goes regularly for a month and then completely stops going or attends too infrequently for it to even matter. There are many individuals out there right now paying for gym memberships that they haven’t utilised in months, even years. The...
Pregnant women shouldn’t put their trust in unqualified trainers
THOUSANDS of pregnant women who go to the gym could be putting themselves and their unborn children at serious risk of injury and it’s time the government did something about it. I’m not talking about women who exercise while pregnant; no, there are too many benefits to keeping fit for it to be a bad thing. I mean, the world watched in awe as tennis superstar Serena Williams won the Australian Open while eight weeks pregnant, and actor Gal Gadot filmed the physically demanding Wonder Woman while five months pregnant. The stigma around exercising while up the duff is thankfully becoming less...
Supporting Emma Thomas and her work with Open Heart International
Arcadium HQ is proud to support our client Emma Thomas, a cardiothoracic scrub nurse at the Prince Charles Hospital, as she travels to Tanzania in November, volunteering with Open Heart International. Over 7 days, Emma will work with an expert team of health professionals, providing education and training to the local doctors and nurses and working with them to perform vital surgery to repair heart defects in both paediatric and adult patients. Their goal, above all, is to educate the local team of health professionals, assisting them to do the work so they can confidently operate on the thousands of cases in...
Supporting the Blonde Bandits and the ‘Shitbox Rally’
Arcadium HQ is proud to be the main team sponsor for Amanda and Vick, the ‘Blonde Bandits’, as they take part in this year’s Shitbox Rally from 19-25 May. The rally is the adventure of a lifetime, challenging participants and their cars, worth no more than $1,000, to a drive of 3800kms across Australia from Brisbane to Darwin over 7 days, raising money for Cancer Council. The Shitbox Rally is not a race, but a challenge to achieve the unthinkable as they push their ‘bombs’ across some of Australia’s most formidable roads, all in the name of charity. To participate, the Bandits must...
Supporting Turia’s Everest Trek
Arcadium HQ was proud to support our client, Carole, as she embarked on a life-changing trip to the Everest Base Camp in 2017. Carole raised much-needed funds for Interplast, a charity which provides life changing surgery and medical training in 17 countries across the Asia Pacific region. Carole joined 24 other adventurous souls on an Inspired Adventures trek through Nepal to Base Camp, raising more than $240,000 between them. Interplast is an exceptional charity who partner with local organisations, including hospitals, universities and local NGOs with a mission to ‘repair bodies and rebuild lives’. Not only do they provide surgical services to those...
Breaking Down Barriers: why it’s imperative that we encourage people on the autism spectrum to participate in fitness and sporting activities
By Amy Webster, Personal Trainer, Arcadium HQ It is widely recognised that taking part in physical activity not only helps to keeps us fit and well, it can increase self-esteem, develop social skills and improve mental health and general well-being. However, research shows that autistic people are less likely to participate in sport or physical activity than others due to factors related to the condition, including heightened fear and anxiety in social situations, difficulty understanding body language and metaphor and sensory challenges. If someone on the autism spectrum responds negatively to a sporting activity, this is sometimes perceived as a behavioural issue when...
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