At Stout-Heart Fitness, we believe that every neurodivergent individual, referred to as “athletes” when training at our facility, deserves the opportunity to be stronger and more active. Our personalized fitness for neurodivergent individuals focuses on building a strong mind-body connection to help them improve their physical abilities, social skills, and confidence. Our approach is grounded in empathy, understanding, science, and a deep commitment to each athlete’s unique needs.
Fitness for Neurodivergent Individuals
Everyone is different, and at Stout-Heart Fitness, we know that one-size-fits-all programs don’t work when providing fitness for neurodivergent individuals. That’s why we focus on developing individualized training plans, which consist of the perfect movements at each stage of their development. Before an individual joins our program, we begin with a comprehensive assessment, working closely with parents and guardians to understand their athlete’s specific needs, challenges, and goals.
This assessment ensures that we create a program tailored to each athlete’s physical abilities and emotional and social needs. The process begins by asking you, the parent or guardian, to share details about your child, which gives us a clearer picture of the athlete’s unique neurodivergent characteristics. If the athlete is verbal and willing, we engage with them directly, asking about what they like and don’t like, what they are good at, and what their goals are.
With this step complete, we move on to a physical assessment. During this phase, we observe how athletes move, determine what exercises they enjoy, and assess their strengths and weaknesses. Because of our philosophy of putting our athletes’ emotional comfort first, if the child feels anxious or dysregulated (emotionally overwhelmed), we skip the physical assessment and move on to a brief tour of the facility.
Core Strengthening and Intensity Training
After completing the assessment, we create a personalized fitness plan tailored specifically to the individual needs of your neurodivergent loved one. Each plan includes two essential components: Core Strengthening and Intensity Training. These elements are vital for establishing a strong physical foundation and fostering essential mind-body connections. It’s important to note that these initial recommendations serve as the starting point for your athlete’s journey and include the ideal exercises to meet their unique needs. We will adjust the exercises as the athlete progresses to ensure continuous improvement and motivation. Together, these two elements empower the neurodivergent fitness programs for our athletes.
Core Strengthening
Core strength is essential for all movement and is the foundation of all physical ability. Stout-Heart Fitness uses functional exercises like sandbag carries and kettlebell farmer’s walks to help our athletes develop core strength. While some athletes may initially be uncomfortable with specific movements (like hugging a sandbag), they may thrive with other exercises, such as holding a kettlebell or performing a simple squat. We aim to tailor each movement to the athlete’s comfort level and capabilities while ensuring it helps strengthen the muscles supporting the body.
Building core strength improves physical abilities, helps prevent injury, and improves overall body awareness. As athletes develop their core strength, they begin to experience a stronger connection to their body, which can boost their coordination and confidence. It’s a foundational element of fitness for neurodivergent people.
Intensity Training
Intensity is the second foundational component of our fitness for neurodivergent individuals. We use simple, functional movements at higher intensity levels to help the athlete make new neural connections and improve their proprioception (the body’s ability to sense its position in space) and interoception (the ability to mentally connect to what the body is experiencing). This can be particularly helpful for athletes dealing with anxiety or other challenges related to neurodivergence.
Training at high intensity helps the brain and body align, creating a balance between what the brain perceives as effort or stress and what the body experiences, which the athlete senses as an achievement. This balance allows athletes to down-regulate their nervous system and find a sense of calm and control. Our exercises may include sled pushes, rope pulls, kettlebell swings, deadlifts, and dumbbell presses designed to fully engage the body and help build strength and stability.
Supporting Parents and Families Every Step of the Way
The journey can be complex, so we’re here to guide you through every step. After the assessment, we will provide an assessment report and detailed rates. This report includes recommendations for the frequency and intensity of training sessions and an outline of the athlete’s goals and progress. It can also be submitted to your Regional Center, which may offer funding to support the program.
Parenting a neurodivergent child is a demanding, always-on challenge. That’s why another Stout-Heart Fitness goal is supporting the families of our athletes. We recognize the need for parents and guardians to have some time off to relax, celebrate their athletes’ successes, talk with parents of other athletes, and more. You can learn more about how parents benefit on our Parents page.
Learn How Our Fitness for Neurodivergent Individuals Can Help Your Family
At Stout-Heart Fitness, we are dedicated to helping neurodivergent people thrive physically and socially. Our fitness for neurodivergent individuals is rooted in core strengthening and intensity training to promote confidence, connections (social and mind-body), and independence. We look forward to partnering with you and your child or loved one on this empowering journey. Together, we can help them lead fuller, more engaged lives. Contact us today to schedule an assessment.