Mum-of-two launches free online fitness classes for disabled
SOUTH TYNESIDE COMPANY RECEIVES FUNDING TO RUN ACCESSIBLE SESSIONS RANGING FROM YOGA TO ‘BOXERCISE’
A MOTHER-OF-TWO, who has been helping people with disabilities to get fit at home, is delighted about a cash boost which means that a new range of online exercise classes can launch for free this January.
Tara Johnson, who herself has cerebral palsy, runs the non-profit Tailored Leisure Company (TLC) which has secured funding for a series of virtual fitness classes offering a pick of yoga, strengthbuilding arm exercise or ‘ boxercise’.
The idea is of offer those with disabilities a fun and stress-free way to get fitter – while seated – as well as boost their wellbeing and help alleviate the feelings of isolation that have been building during the pandemic.
Tara, from Whitburn in South Tyneside, was inspired by her own condition as well as her work in the health and social care sector to set up her social enterprise TLC, which spearheaded this Sit to be Fit initiative.
And her online focus has resulted in her fitness sessions taking off and they now see referrals from GPs.
The company has received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and the local Hadrian Trust, which makes grants to charities, to launch the new taster classes, that will see instructors lead the likes of relaxing Iyengar yoga – which focuses on precision and alignment – and boxercise to help people build strength and flexibility and also their confidence through meeting new people.
The classes, which will run on Zoom, are aimed at those aged 16-plus who have a physical disability or long-term condition, such as mobility issues, deafness and blindness.
And further funding from the Comic Relief Community Fund and charity federation Groundworks will pay for 12 to 16-yearolds with disabilities and special educational needs to join an eightweek programme of virtual boxercise classes starting at the end of January.
Tara said: “Fitness and lack of access to gyms for disabled people and in particular due to the unprecedented Covid-19 situation leaves people both mentally and physically isolated and is the key
reason I set up the Sit to be Fit programme through TLC. I’m delighted to have secured additional funding to take this project into 2021 – it has come at an optimum time and I am looking forward to supporting more people over the next few months.”
She added: “Fitness and wellbeing are so important and can’t be underestimated.
“The virtual classes we ran previously have reached people nationally, in particular in some Tier 4 areas and the positive feedback from these classes has shown there is a strong need in the commu - nity for tailored and accessible fitness.” Tara is also setting herself a new year challenge, with plans to do a sponsored stand – with the help of tailored training and nutrition – so that her two children can see her on her feet for the first time. She is hoping to raise sponsorship which will support the ongoing work of the company, which recently launched an Access for All fund-raising campaign to develop an accessible short break and leisure service for people with disabilities – and their families – across the North East.
The big aim of this Butterfly of the North initiative is to unlock barriers and ensure access to facilities designed by disabled people for disabled people.
Fitness and wellbeing are so important and can’t be underestimated Tara Johnson