Our Mission
I~AS Adaptive Fitness and Wellness exists to support persons of ALL ages and abilities by providing quality adaptive instruction and coaching.
Our Commitment
Preparation for sports, requires the adaptive athlete to train and prepare their mind and body so they will be ready for the mental and physical demands associated with recreational and competitive sports. Adaptive fitness instruction and conditioning will help you take your skills to the next level and beyond.
Making it a priority to regularly participate in activities and behaviors that improve our health is important. A well rounded fitness program should address the development of muscular strength, power, muscular endurance, flexibility and range of motion, agility, static and dynamic balance, cardiovascular development, and nutrition.
Our staff will meet with you to assess your baseline fitness, nutrition, as well as other relevant health and safety considerations. We will then work together to develop a training plan taking into account sport specific goals and objectives you would like to accomplish. Learning positive ways to balance the demands you face in your busy
schedule can be challenging. We want to help you make decisions that become positive habits, daily rituals and routines. You will then finally experience the benefits of positive lifestyle changes.
Watercolor by Barb Wallace
Cycling
Bicycle, Handcycle, Tandem, Recumbent
Our Mission
TA / I~AS exists to support persons of ALL ages and abilities by providing quality recreational and competitive adaptive sports experiences.
Our Commitment
Cycling is a wonderful indoor/outdoor activity to challenge the adaptive athlete, to support fitness development as well as to increase environmental accessibility. Cycling provides the adaptive athlete with opportunities to explore recreational and/or competitive sport.
Our staff will meet with you to assess your baseline health, fitness as well as adaptive equipment needs. We will then develop a plan to address specific goals and objectives which will include, but are not limited to: (equipment selection and fitting, ergometer training, fitness for cycling, riding progressions~(beginner, intermediate, advanced), terrain selection, riding in different environments, as well as safety considerations). Adaptive cycling instruction and coaching will help you take your skills to the next level and beyond.
Para-cycling is the sport of cycling adapted for cyclists who have various disabilities. It is governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale.
Para-cycling currently classifies athletes in four categories: visually impaired (tandem), lower-body paralysis (hand bike), cerebral palsy, and locomotor impairments.
History
Road Para cycling made its Paralympic debut at the New York/Stoke-Mandeville Games in 1984. Track Para cycling was introduced in Atlanta at 1996 Paralympic Games.
In the 1980s the sport was first open to visually impaired athletes who competed on tandem cycles with a sighted pilot.
The sport of Para cycling has continued to evolve and now includes classifications for those with lower-body paralysis (hand bike), cerebral palsy, amputations, and other physical impairments who compete on bicycles, tricycles and hand cycles.
Currently, there are five sports classes for hand cycling, two for tricycle, and five for bicycle. The 3 sport classes for tandem cycling compete in one event.
Explore Adaptive Cycling Album 1
Fitness & Conditioning
Balance (static/dynamic)
– the ability to move or remain in a position without losing control or falling.
Strength
– the maximal force you can apply against a load.
Power
– is proportional to the speed at which you can apply maximal force.
Endurance
– the ability to continue with an activity over a long period of time.
Agility
– the ability to move quickly and easily.
Core Strength
– strength of your core muscles (abdominal muscles, back muscles, and muscles around the pelvis).
Cardiovascular/Aerobic Capacity
– the maximum amount of oxygen consumed by the body during intense exercises in a given time frame. It is a function of both cardiorespiratory performance and oxygen O2 utilization.
Flexibility and Range of Motion (ROM)
– the quality of bending easily; pliable, limber, the ability to move a joint or group of joints – stretching and lengthening the muscles.
Nutrition
– the process of providing or obtaining the food and nutrients necessary for nourishment, health and growth.
Our History
Over the past 40 years, Therapeutic Adventures / IndependencePlus Adaptive Sports (TA / I~AS), has worked with thousands of individuals of all ages and abilities who have one or more physical or developmental disability and/or complex medical needs. TA / I~AS has never wavered from the demands to be innovative leader promoting greater access to adaptive sports and adaptive outdoor adventures.
In addition to providing leadership, programs and specialty therapeutic services to help people to restore, to rebuild, and to re-create themselves, TA / I~AS has worked hard to embolden people with the courage to improve their functional independence, fitness and overall quality of life.
Our belief is that ALL persons learn and benefit by being provided with opportunities to develop self-awareness, self- confidence, and self-reliance.
• TA / I~AS staff are committed to Design & Development (D&D) – Adaptive Outdoor Equipment & Assistive Technology (we have designed many types of adaptive equipment to improve accessibility and independence while participating in adaptive sports and adaptive outdoor adventures).
• TA / I~AS staff designed/developed Central Virginia’s 1st accessible outdoor fitness course for wheelchair & blind/visually impaired users.
Browse the Fitness Course Album
Explore Adaptive Fitness Album 1
Watercolor by Barb Wallace
yoga ~ meditation ~ mindfulness
A complete fitness and wellness program, should include the important role of yoga ~ meditation~ mindfulness.
yoga
There are many types of traditional yoga as well as some variations that have been well received — Hot Yoga, Power Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Prenatal Yoga and Paddle Board Yoga, to name a few. Depending on which discipline of yoga that you choose to practice, there are certainly many benefits that they all share in common.
• yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility. …
• yoga helps relieve back pain and joint pain. …
• yoga lessens symptoms arthritis, and other chronic conditions. …
• yoga supports heart health and cardiovascular fitness. …
• yoga augments relaxation, and helps you sleep better. …
• yoga can boost your energy and provide brighter moods. …
• yoga helps you manage stress. …
• yoga connects you with a supportive community.
It is widely understood, the most important aspect of yoga is proper breathing. In fact, it’s been said, Without the breath, yoga is no longer yoga. And with the wrong breath, yoga can adversely affect the body. Learning and practicing proper breathing techniques — when to inhale and when to exhale is imperative.
meditation & mindfulness
In mindfulness meditation, you are learning (1) how to focus your attention on the breath as it goes in and out, and (2) how to increase your awareness when the mind wanders from this task. This discipline of returning to the breath builds the muscles of attention and mindfulness.
• meditation & mindfulness provides a better understanding of your pain
• meditation & mindfulness lowers your stress levels
• meditation & mindfulness helps you connect better to your current situation
• meditation & mindfulness helps improve focus
• meditation & mindfulness helps reduce the brain chatter gets you off task
Explore Adaptive Yoga Album 1
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