The first week of July, Coach Brian and Danny were able to take a long-awaited trip to Colorado. This is something they have been talking about for YEARS, and they were finally able to make it happen! The majority of the trip was spent outside exploring in nature – exactly what Danny loves most. He even completed a 12,000 ft. hike!! An accomplishment for even experienced hikers. We missed you all while we were gone but we’re back and ready to get moving again. Check out some pictures from the trip!

Exciting news! Spectrum Strength is expanding to better suit your needs. We will now be holding classes at two different locations across Long Island. In addition to our classes at Bayport CrossFit (our original location), we will now be hosted by CrossFit Rapture in Brightwaters as well. Classes in Brightwaters will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30pm-5:30pm and from 5:30pm-6:30pm to help accommodate for those athletes who have school or other commitments during the day.

We are SO excited to take this next step in our journey, and we can’t wait to see what is in store for the future of Spectrum Strength and our athletes! The first official class at CrossFit Rapture will be held on Tuesday, July 10th – we hope to see you there!

Another great example of how physical activity can positively impact the lives of individuals suffering from developmental disabilities (and their families too!). The Schneider twins, Alex and Jamie, from right here on the island, have gained national attention over the years as they’ve completed over 26 marathons and 400 road races between them. Alex and Jamie are severely autistic and completely non-verbal, but they are able to find a sort of “escape” from the struggles of their daily lives through running. Their mom Robyn says that running helps release their energy and gives them a goal to focus on. Their story really hits home for me personally, as the Schneider twins found running through the same group that my family did – Rolling Thunder Special Needs Running Program. Our journeys have been very similar; both searching for an output and finding that autism can be channeled into something positive for the entire family. We hope that Spectrum Strength can help you experience this as well!

Check out this great video (Facebook) about Alex and Jamie below:

https://www.facebook.com/brightvibes/videos/885325118320795/?hc_ref=ARTBzG8MWWS5ki6AFAVFBEyg4GFfA7sPqXewEglhV6pQFn0M94xkMdN2qZhpvBr2f7o

If you haven’t heard of Ido Kedar, he is one of the many non-verbal, autistic individuals who found their voice through the rapid prompting method (RPM – a topic that deserves an entire blog post to itself; more on that another day!).  Ido now communicates freely on an iPad or letterboard and has authored his own book Ido in Autismland, as well as a popular blog. This week he had a guest blogger, a friend of his named Dillan who is in a similar situation. Dillan wrote about his love for running and how he has found solace from his autism through physical activity. He compares the time he spends running as being “air to a drowning man”.  Absolutely amazing!! This is why we do what we do. Exercise can be a wonderful respite for many individuals – regardless of any unique challenges they may be facing.

Please read Dillan’s blog post below “Running Toward Myself”, and be sure to check out some of Ido’s other works!

http://idoinautismland.com/?p=697

We all know how important exercise is for our physical health, but did you know that it also helps to improve our brain function? Research has consistently shown just how crucial physical activity is for making sure our brains are in tip-top shape. Scientists have discovered that exercise, especially aerobic (the kind that gets your heart rate up) benefits our brains in a variety of ways. It regulates the release of certain hormones that not only help us decrease stress and feel happier, but also provide nourishment to our brain cells to help them grow. Exercise also decreases inflammation in the brain and improves the effectiveness of it’s neurons. Regular exercise even makes certain areas of the brain grow larger (just like exercising your muscles would), specifically the areas responsible for thinking and memory. Physical activity has also been shown to improve sleep and mood, and decrease anxiety. It is clear that activity is important for making sure our brains stay sharp – so let’s get moving!

Check out these articles to learn more:

https://www.brainhq.com/brain-resources/everyday-brain-fitness/physical-exercise

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110 

This past weekend Coach Brian and his son Danny completed the Inlet Ride bike-a-thon to Cupsogue Beach. They rocked the 28 mile ride and had a great day!! Even better – all proceeds benefit Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, a summer camp for children with special needs. Awesome job!

The wheels are rolling over here at Spectrum Strength and classes will be starting up soon! Get ready for our first class on Monday, February 5th!

Welcome to Spectrum Strength! Are you looking for a fun and challenging way to improve your physical fitness? You’ve come to the right place! Our vision at Spectrum Strength is for every participant to enter our facility unhindered by labels and limits, ready to achieve the same goals as their peers. We’ve designed small classes, open to everyone, where each athlete receives the support, encouragement, and attention that they need to succeed. Hopefully we’ll be seeing you soon!