Reclaiming Strength: How Adaptive Fitness Creates Confident, Healthier Women
Empowerment begins with movement. For women with disabilities, fitness is about more than exercise itself. It’s about gaining independence and taking control of their well-being in a world that often overlooks their needs. We’re going to dig into how adaptive fitness provides a tailored approach that meets each individual where they are, breaking through limitations and helping anyone find their strength.
Celebrating Women’s History Month & International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day, officially founded by the United Nations in 1977, honors the achievements of women worldwide on March 8th. It’s a day of advocacy, progress, and recognition of women’s contributions across every field, regardless of divisions.
Following the establishment of International Women’s Day, Women’s History Week was launched in Santa Rosa, California. After gaining national attention from educators and activists, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first National Women’s History Week in 1980. Seven years later, the United States Congress designated the entire month of March as Women’s History Month.
March has become a time to recognize the resilience of women throughout history and acknowledge the barriers that still exist—especially for those with disabilities. Representation matters, and highlighting the achievements of all women helps shift societal perception. It’s a powerful reminder that strength comes in many forms.
Why Investing In Fitness Matters At Every Age & Ability
Women from any walk of life benefit from getting up and moving. Adaptive fitness allows you to enhance your physical and emotional states with additions to your day-to-day routines.
Young Adults: Your 20s are a time to build a strong foundation. Regular exercise boosts energy, self-esteem, and mental clarity while setting the stage for long-term health. Since peak bone mass is reached in the third decade of life, weight-bearing activities like stair climbing and high-impact sports help maintain bone density and muscle mass, setting the tone for decades to come.
Adults: Life gets busier when you are balancing work, family, and self-care—and it can certainly be a challenge to navigate. Luckily, regular exercise helps with everything from stress management to hormone regulation and muscle loss prevention to cardiovascular health. When you integrate multi-joint exercises into the mix, such as barbell squats and dumbbell lunges, your daily activities become easier and pain-free.
Older Women: As we age, staying active is crucial for preventing injuries. Falls are the leading cause of injury for those over 65, making neuromotor exercises—those that improve balance, coordination, and gait—essential. Strength training and flexibility exercises enable you to maintain independence, making your muscles ready for anything. It’s never too late to invest in your health!
According to the Journal of Physiology, you can mitigate the effects of aging with lifelong recreational exercise because you are preserving your muscle fibers.
Top Tips For Staying Healthy With Adaptive Fitness
Starting or maintaining an active lifestyle doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some practical ways to get your body moving, no matter your ability level:
Start Small & Build Up: Adaptive fitness focuses on progress, not perfection. And progress happens over time! Gradually increase the intensity of your workouts based on what feels right to your body.
Make Your Exercises Enjoyable: There are so many different activities to try that get you one step closer to your goals. Consider how you can make strength training fun through the use of weights and resistance bands.
Stay Consistent: It’s important that you incorporate movement into daily life. But that doesn’t mean it has to look the same every day. Find a rhythm that makes sense within your schedule, and switch workouts and stretches up where possible.
Don’t Hesitate To Seek Support: Partnering with a trainer who specializes in adaptive fitness provides the motivation you need to succeed. You should also consider joining a community of like-minded women who can help hold you accountable in your exercise journey. For example, check out Team Survivor, a fitness community that sets out to empower all women who are going through or have had cancer.
Center Your Mental Health: Research shows that regular movement improves cognitive function and mental sharpness, on top of having a direct impact on your emotional well-being. Whether it’s a short workout or a full training session, exercise creates a positive mind-body connection.
Experience Personalized Programs With REIZ Adaptive Fitness
At REIZ, we believe every woman deserves to feel strong. Our customized programs and expert guidance are designed to meet individual needs, providing a fitness experience that fosters a true sense of confidence. If you’re ready to challenge your limitations and up your quality of life, there is no better time to start than the present.
REMEMBER: We are a fitness resource, not medical professionals. Always consult your doctor before beginning a program with REIZ Adaptive Fitness.