[Sportsandrec] Anyone totally blind and member of a gym?

[Christine]

Hey, Tonia,
Do you want to give me a call and we can talk?  Maybe I can help you.  I am
a physical education teacher at a college and manage our college's fitness
center.  I have a number of blind students in my classes.  You can email me
at Christine at bicyclingblind.org and I'll give you my phone number if you
want to chat about your questions.



Christine Tinberg, M.S., M.S.
Founder & Tandem Pilot
U.S. Blind Tandem Cycling Connection
P.O. Box 944
Woodland Hills, CA 91367-9998
818-719-0238 (ph)
christine at bicyclingblind.org

http://bicyclingblind.org
http://www.facebook.com/bicyclingblind










-----Original Message-----
From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gatton, Tonia (OFB-LV)
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 1:10 PM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
Subject: [Sportsandrec] Anyone totally blind and member of a gym?

Hi all!  I realize many of you are at convention (where I wish I was);
but hopefully I'll still get some feedback.

I really want to join my local YMCA gym.  However, I'm hesitant because
I'm totally blind and quite a bit overweight, and I'm afraid I'll  be
uncomfortable trying to navigate in tight quarters between the
equipment, bumping in to or disturbing people during their workout,
having to always find someone to assist with setting up cardio machines
or convince them to let me label them in braille, etc.  I have very good
travel skills and I'm familiar with the various machines.  I've gone to
gyms in the past but always with a friend who could guide or direct me
to the next machine.  This time I'll be on my own and I want to feel
comfortable if I'm going to put out the money for a gym membership.
Thankfully, the YMCA doesn't require a contract and I do plan on hiring
a personal trainer for a few sessions to get me started.

Anyone have any ideas or advice from your personal experience on how I
can overcome my fears?  Also, how have you dealt with fitness classes?
Are instructor's usually pretty good about meeting with you one-on-one
at least once before class to go over the moves and terminology they'll
be using?

Thanks so much!

Tonia
   

Have any of you had similar  

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