Exercise for Life

Shepherd Center’s ProMotion Fitness Center has a weight room, indoor track, full-court gymnasium and swimming pool. It is the people — clients and staff — who set it apart from the typical gym.

“Our center is open to the community, so we have a wide variety of people with and without disabilities,” says Becky Washburn, Shepherd’s manager for ProMotion and Beyond Therapy^®. “It’s a very welcoming environment. A lot of cross-awareness and integration to the community happens in our gym.”

Each client begins with a one-on-one session with a ProMotion staff member to discuss the client’s goals. The staff then tailors a wellness program to meet the specific needs and goals of the member.

“We make sure the client knows exactly how to perform the exercise program, including equipment setup, basic exercise prescription and appropriate progression,” Washburn says.

Many clients will continue exercising at more traditional gyms closer to their homes, so they get tips on making that transition.

“Some of the pieces in our gym are adaptable, but we have traditional equipment, too,” Washburn says. “We do a lot of education to teach our patients what they can do in a traditional gym and how to advocate for themselves.”

Beyond Therapy® clients also are encouraged to get into adaptive sports, like handcycling, which can become fun family activities.

“Maintaining wellness and physical fitness is important for all of us, but for our patients, it is critical to being successful and strong in the community,” Washburn says.

For more information on ProMotion, call 404-350-7789.

Written by David Simpson
Photography by Gary Meek