Adaptive Exercise

Adaptive Exercise Adaptive Exercise specializes in providing appropriate fitness programs with appropriate levels of support for people with autism and other special needs.

06/05/2026

One thing I've learned over the years as a trainer is that experience matters, but staying curious matters too.

Recently, I completed a continuing education course focused on kyphosis (rounded upper back posture). One of the exercises discussed was the face pull—an exercise I've been using for years.

The course explained how using two resistance bands and keeping the pull higher can significantly increase the range of motion and create a much greater challenge for the muscles responsible for posture, shoulder stability, and upper back strength.

After making this adjustment in my own training, I decided to implement it with Taylor.

The difference was immediate.

Even though Taylor was already familiar with face pulls, this variation required much more control and strength throughout the movement. Because of the increased challenge, I'm providing physical support to help him stay successful while he learns the new pattern.

This is what progression often looks like. It's not always adding more weight or making an exercise harder just for the sake of it. Sometimes it's finding a better way to perform an exercise so that clients can get more benefit from every repetition.

As trainers, we should never stop learning. As clients, Taylor and others benefit when we continue to refine our methods and look for ways to improve.

Great work today, Taylor!

Trainer Tip Tuesday: The Adaptive Exercise ApproachOne of the most important concepts we follow at Adaptive Exercise is ...
06/04/2026

Trainer Tip Tuesday: The Adaptive Exercise Approach

One of the most important concepts we follow at Adaptive Exercise is that progress doesn't start with the exercise itself—it starts with understanding the individual.

We use a simple framework:

🔹 Meet – We meet each client where they are currently at. We assess their abilities, movement patterns, motivation, and comfort level. The goal is to find the right starting point, not the perfect exercise.

🔹 Expect – We set clear expectations. Clients are more successful when they understand what they will be doing and what is expected of them. Consistency, structure, and predictability help build confidence.

🔹 Support – We provide the appropriate level of support for success. This may include visual demonstrations, modified language, physical guidance, environmental adjustments, or exercise adaptations. The right support creates positive experiences and builds trust.

🔹 Progress – Once the foundation is in place, we gradually and systematically progress over time. We track performance, reduce support when appropriate, and focus on consistent improvement rather than rushing the process.

At Adaptive Exercise, we believe that small steps lead to big outcomes. When we meet individuals where they are, set clear expectations, and provide an appropriate level of support, progress becomes the natural result.

MEET + EXPECT + SUPPORT = PROGRESS

⭐ Adaptive All-Star: Trevor ⭐One of the things I love most about adaptive fitness is seeing what can happen when someone...
06/03/2026

⭐ Adaptive All-Star: Trevor ⭐

One of the things I love most about adaptive fitness is seeing what can happen when someone is given the right support, clear expectations, and a program that progresses at the right pace.

Trevor is a perfect example of that.

When Trevor and I began working together in January of 2024, much of his training focused on modified bodyweight exercises and lighter resistance work with sandbells. While he worked hard from day one, the workouts we started with would look very different from what he is capable of today.

Over the past year and a half, Trevor has steadily built strength, coordination, body awareness, and confidence through consistent effort and systematic progression. Today, he is performing exercises such as machine chest presses, machine overhead presses, standing cable rows, inchworm crawls, ab rollouts, modified Russian twists, planks, and a variety of functional strength and corrective exercises.

What stands out most about Trevor is his willingness to challenge himself. He enjoys learning new exercises, embraces new equipment and training environments, and consistently puts forth great effort during both his one-to-one training sessions and group fitness classes.

Perhaps my favorite part has been watching his confidence grow. There is a noticeable sense of pride when Trevor masters a new exercise, increases resistance, or accomplishes something that once seemed difficult. Those moments are what adaptive exercise is all about.

Trevor's progress didn't happen overnight. It has been the result of consistent effort, patience, and showing up week after week ready to work.

Congratulations, Trevor, on being this month's Adaptive All-Star! We are incredibly proud of everything you have accomplished and excited to continue watching you grow stronger, more confident, and more independent.

06/02/2026

One of the keys to long-term progress is knowing when and how to modify an exercise to create a new training stimulus.

Recently, John and Brian have been working on Superman raises to improve posterior chain strength and postural awareness. While they had already mastered the traditional version of the exercise, we recently introduced a new variation by having them perform the movement while positioned over a stability ball.

This adjustment serves several purposes. The ball allows for a greater range of motion during the movement, challenges trunk stability, and encourages stronger activation of the muscles responsible for maintaining good posture. By carefully modifying the setup, we can continue progressing the exercise while keeping it engaging and appropriately challenging.

Small changes in exercise selection and positioning can make a significant difference over time. Rather than simply repeating the same movements indefinitely, we continually evaluate each athlete's abilities and look for opportunities to build upon previously mastered skills.

John and Brian both did an excellent job adapting to this new variation and continue to demonstrate the consistency and willingness to learn that drives long-term success.

This past week felt like a return to my normal rhythm.No race training, no ultra-specific preparation, just getting back...
06/01/2026

This past week felt like a return to my normal rhythm.

No race training, no ultra-specific preparation, just getting back to the routines and habits that help me feel my best. After several months focused on longer events, it was nice to have more flexibility with my running and simply run based on how I felt that day.

Running remained consistent at 22 miles for the week. Some days were easy, some days were a little faster, but overall it felt great to be moving without a strict race-specific plan.

My biggest challenge this week was actually my lifting goal. I made it to 200 minutes, but only just barely. Over the past few weeks I felt like I was starting to plateau, so I made a few adjustments to my program. Nothing drastic—just getting back to focusing on progressive overload and gradual improvement. Slow, steady progress has always worked best for me.

Outside of training, I continued with daily breathwork, stretching, morning walks with Colby, and a few cold showers throughout the week. The small habits may not be exciting, but they add up over time.

I also had a busy week working with 26 clients and teaching one group class. As always, helping my clients work toward their own goals remains one of the most rewarding parts of my week.

Breakdown:

🏃 Miles run: 22
🏋️ Minutes lifted: 200
🤸 Minutes stretched: 65
🌬️ Daily breathwork
🚿 A few cold showers
🐾 Daily morning walks with Colby
👥 Clients trained: 26
👥 Group classes: 1

Back to the basics.

Consistency. Progression. Patience.

Sometimes growth comes from pushing the limits.

Sometimes it comes from simply showing up and doing the work.

05/30/2026

This is exactly why exercise progress should never be judged by where someone starts.

When Bryce and I first began working on lunges, the exercise looked very different than it does today. Lunges were a significant challenge, so we modified the movement to match his current abilities. We started with his front foot elevated on a step and he held onto my hands for balance and support.

As Bryce became stronger and more confident, we systematically adjusted the exercise. The platform got lower over time. My hands were replaced with a resistance band. Then the amount of support continued to decrease session after session.

Now Bryce is performing lunges independently.

What you're seeing in this video is only his second session completing lunges without support from me or a resistance band for balance. More importantly, you can see the confidence that has built along the way.

This is what individualized programming looks like. Meet the client where they are, provide an appropriate level of support, and gradually fade that support as skills improve. Small progressions repeated consistently over time often lead to results that once seemed impossible.

Great work, Bryce!

05/28/2026

What you see in this video did not happen overnight.

When Jacob and I first began working on this lunge progression, we started with his front stance leg elevated on a step to reduce the overall difficulty of the movement. From there, I had him lower his back knee to a large medicine ball while holding onto my hands for support and balance.

Over the following weeks, we slowly and systematically progressed the exercise.

✔️ Lowering the height of the front platform
✔️ Gradually decreasing the size of the medicine ball target
✔️ Improving balance and stability
✔️ Transitioning from holding my hands to holding a resistance band for support

Each phase had a purpose.

The goal was not to rush Jacob into the final version of the movement. The goal was to build the strength, coordination, balance, motor planning, and confidence necessary to eventually perform it independently.

This is a major part of adaptive exercise that people often do not see:
The real progress happens in the details of the progression itself.

Now Jacob is demonstrating controlled lunges nearly all the way to the floor with significantly improved balance and confidence compared to where we started.

Proud of the consistent effort he continues to put in every week 💪

GROUP CLASS THIS SATURDAY! 💪Join us this Saturday at 10:00am in Whitinsville for another Adaptive Exercise group class w...
05/27/2026

GROUP CLASS THIS SATURDAY! 💪

Join us this Saturday at 10:00am in Whitinsville for another Adaptive Exercise group class with Open Sky!

These classes are designed to build:
✔️ Strength
✔️ Coordination
✔️ Confidence
✔️ Social interaction
✔️ Functional movement skills

Every participant is encouraged to move at their own pace with appropriate levels of support along the way. Whether someone is new to exercise or already active, our goal is always to create a positive and successful environment for everyone involved.

This class is FREE to register, but spots are limited.

📍 Whitinsville – Open Sky
⏰ Saturday at 10:00am

Click the link below to register👇
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0948A9AF29A6F8C52-63863485-adaptive #/

Hope to see everyone there!

05/26/2026

Not every athlete needs the same level of adaptive support.

One thing I always emphasize is meeting each individual where they are.

In this older video, my client Kev is performing Sandbell Toss Overs, one of my favorite functional exercises. Movements like this challenge coordination, strength, balance, and body awareness all at once. In many ways, it is similar to a deadlift pattern, but often much more engaging and fun for athletes.

For Kev, this exercise did not require extensive adaptive strategies or physical prompting. My role here was simple:
✔️ Clearly model the exercise
✔️ Make sure he understood the task
✔️ Observe his movement quality
✔️ Provide encouragement and praise

That is an important reminder in adaptive fitness. Sometimes the best coaching strategy is knowing when to step in… and when to step back.

Functional exercises like these can help improve strength and movement patterns that carry over into everyday life and tasks of daily living.

Address

130 May Street
Worcester, MA
01602

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 8pm
Sunday 9am - 1:30pm

Telephone

+15087352949

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