Inclusive Fitness

🏒 Meet Coach Jay! 🏒

With a decade of experience and a passion for neuroadaptive fitness, Coach Jay has worked with athletes at Inclusive Fitness since 2021 and coached high school hockey and baseball since 2013. Jay's love for fitness started early, leading him to transition from nursing to full-time training in 2011. Outside the gym, Jay enjoys hockey, tennis, and spending time with his family and their dogs. We're thrilled to have him on the Inclusive Fitness team!

💪 What is your position at Inclusive Fitness?
I coach amazing neurodivergent athletes.

📚/📺 What book/TV show are you currently reading/watching?
Sadly nothing at the moment. My kids take up all my free time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

🏋️ Favorite exercise to teach your athletes?
Split squats,

🎵 Favorite song on your workout playlist?
Cooped Up - Post Malone

🍽️ Favorite healthy snack?
Almond Butter

⛰️ Favorite out-of-the-gym activity?
Tennis 🎾

We are so excited to be a charity partner for the 25th Annual Flutie 5K for Autism with the !

🏃‍♀️ JOIN OUR TEAM on Sunday, October 27 at Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick, MA to run, walk or roll for autism acceptance!

🏃‍♂️ 100% of all funds raised will go directly to the Inclusive Fitness Scholarship fund to lower financial barriers for those athletes to Raise The Bar!

🏃 Register or Donate NOW - Check story for link!

We are so excited to be a charity partner for the 25th Annual Flutie 5K for Autism with the !

🏃‍♀️ JOIN OUR TEAM on Sunday, October 27 at Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick, MA to run, walk or roll for autism acceptance!

🏃‍♂️ 100% of all funds raised will go directly to the Inclusive Fitness Scholarship fund to lower financial barriers for those athletes to Raise The Bar!

🏃 Register or Donate NOW -
https://raceroster.com/events/2024/89925/25th-annual-flutie-5k-for-autism/fundraising-organization/59971

Kudos to these athletes for reach their new milestone! 💪 We are cheering you along!🏅

We’re thrilled to have connected with Travis Saunders and his autistic son, Patch, during their inspiring presentation as Waypoint Adventure Ambassadors. Their journey cycling over 3,470 miles across America, documented in Travis and his partner's award-winning ABC podcast, "The Parenting Spectrum," is nothing short of remarkable.

Though they didn’t know of each other when the idea for Inclusive Fitness was born, the desire to create inclusive spaces led both Greg and Travis on remarkably similar journeys. They were driven by a deep yearning to share their passions with their sons and ensure that not only Lucas and Patch had the opportunity to thrive– but the neurodivergent community did, as well.

For Greg and Lucas, that space became Inclusive Fitness—a gym where athletes build strength, confidence, and community. For Travis and Patch, it’s Inclusive Trails which provides challenging and life-changing bushwalking, run coaching and mentoring programs for neurodivergent adults. We also share a core value with both Travis's Inclusive Trails and Waypoint Adventure: Presume Competence!

Travis has a long and passionate history of advocacy for autistic Australians. As a father, educator, speaker, and content creator, his work has spanned from co-producing the award-winning ABC podcast "The Parenting Spectrum" to earning Autism Spectrum Australia’s Parent/Carer of the Year award. His expertise has been shared worldwide, and through Inclusive Trails, he continues to support neurodivergent people in the great outdoors.

Our mantra, "Strong For a Purpose," reflects our belief that the functional fitness we cultivate in the gym serves a greater purpose. It prepares our athletes to engage fully in life, including exploring the outdoors. Together, with Inclusive Trails and Waypoint Adventure, we will continue to raise the bar and create more opportunities for the neurodivergent community to become stronger, more confident, and more engaged through fitness and outdoor adventures. 💪🌲

Learn more about Inclusive Trails here: hhttps://www.inclusivetrails.com.au/
Read about their journey cycling across America here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-30/cycling-across-america-with-our-autistic-son/11039044

🎉 Milestone Monday! ✅ Congrats on hitting those new milestones, your hard work is the highlight of our week! Keep at it !💪

Whip-It-Up Wednesday: Coach Shayna's Favorite Breakfast! 🍳🥓

Here's a breakfast that can't be BEAT!

By far, this is my favorite breakfast… and so easy to make!! It’s as simple as...

Ingredients:
Bacon
Eggs
Avocado
Tomato

1. Cook bacon in skillet for 10-15 minutes, turning halfway, until cooked through
2. Meanwhile, mash avocado with a pinch of sea salt and ground pepper
3. Remove bacon from skillet and rest on a paper towel to absorb drippings
4. Drain all but 1 tbsp of bacon grease from your skillet
5. Crack an egg into the skillet and cook to the desired doneness
6. Meanwhile, chop up some tomatoes, I used cherry tomatoes
7. Get out your plate, and layer in order: bacon, egg, avocado, and tomato.

Voilà! Enjoy!

Would you like to see more of our coaches' favorite recipes?

🥍 Meet Coach Maddie! 🥍

Maddie is a recent graduate from Regis College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. At Regis she was captain of the women’s lacrosse team, class president, and held a variety of other leadership positions. This fall she will be starting classes again for her Masters in Occupational Therapy.

At home, Maddie has been a farmer at Long Hill Orchard for 8 years. Here, she facilitates a summer program for special education students from a local high school, teaching them employability skills in manual farm labor, farm retail, animal care, and customer service skills.

💪 What is your position at Inclusive Fitness?
I am a coach!

📚/📺 What book/TV show are you currently reading/watching?
Currently, I am reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

🏋️ Favorite exercise to teach your athletes?
Overhead press is my favorite exercise to teach

🎵 Favorite song on your workout playlist?
Numb by The Offspring is my favorite song on my workout playlist

🍽️ Favorite healthy snack?
Blueberries are my favorite healthy snack

⛰️ Favorite out-of-the-gym activity
My favorite out-of-the-gym activity is camping with my friends! 🏕️

Happy Milestone Monday!🏅
Keep up the amazing work, Athletes!! We can't wait to see you keep hitting new goals! 💪

🎾 Meet Coach Lauren!! 🎾

💪 What is your position at Inclusive Fitness?
I am the Head Coach at Inclusive Fitness. I coach around 20-25 sessions per week, create presentations for monthly team training, innovate new exercises/programming, and onboard new coaches.

📚/📺 What book/TV show are you currently reading/watching?
I am currently watching House Of Cards and reading Level Up by Rob Dial

🏋️ Favorite exercise to teach your athletes?
My favorite exercise to teach my athletes is squats because I believe it is the most essential fundamental movement pattern for activities of daily living.

🎵 Favorite song on your workout playlist?
E.T. by Katy Perry

🍽️ Favorite healthy snack?
Kodiak chocolate chip protein pancakes with strawberries. 😋

⛰️ Favorite out-of-the-gym activity?
My favorite activities out of the gym are tennis and golf.

⚽️ Meet Coach Morgan! ⚽️

Morgan holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Wingate University, where she also played soccer. During her time as a student-athlete, she was a captain of the team for 2 years. She completed an internship at her school with Wingate Sports Performance, helping train other student-athletes.

Morgan has a unique background with the neurodivergent population. She has worked in special education classrooms at local elementary schools. She has also worked at Franciscan Children’s Hospital where she worked an adaptive sports camp and ASL device camp. Morgan has always had a passion for working with adults and kids with disabilities.

Along with teaching, Morgan also has a passion for coaching soccer! She has been coaching kids of all ages for over 10 years at Skilzcheck. She loves seeing her athletes thrive and complete their goals!

💪 What is your position at Inclusive Fitness? I am a coach.
📚/📺 What book/TV show are you currently reading/watching? I am reading The Perfect Marriage by Jeeva Rose
🏋️ Favorite exercise to teach your athletes? I love to teach the overhead press!
🎵 Favorite song on your workout playlist? These Words by Badger and Natasha Beddingfield
🍽️ Favorite healthy snack? Kettlecorn
⛰️ Favorite out-of-the-gym activity? Soccer!

Our athletes are unstoppable! 👏 💪👏 Their hard work and determination are what make Inclusive Fitness so special. Keep up the great work! 🌟

🏄‍♀️ Meet Coach Mo! 🏄‍♀️

Monique's passion for fitness began in her youth with team sports like soccer, basketball, and cheerleading. Her passion for working with the neurodivergent community blossomed in college, where she taught swimming, soccer, and essential life skills. After graduating from JMU with a degree in kinesiology, her 450-hour internship with Inclusive Fitness helped to lay the foundation for her coaching. During her internship at Inclusive Fitness, Monique deepened her knowledge of neuroadaptive fitness, mastering the skills to excel as a coach and inspire our athletes every day.

💪 What is your position at Inclusive Fitness? I am a full-time coach and also help with scheduling and social media.
📚/📺 What book/TV show are you currently reading/watching? The She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
🏋️ Favorite exercise to teach your athletes? I love to teach the overhead press and deadlifts!
🎵 Favorite song on your workout playlist? Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
🍽️ Favorite healthy snack? Yogurt
⛰️ Favorite out-of-the-gym activity? Going to the Cape with my family

👏 Our Athletes are hitting new milestones every week!🏅 Congrats to these athletes on completing all their sessions! 🎉 Keep up the hard work; it is paying off! 💪 👏

New Podcast Alert! 🎙️

Join Inclusive Fitness founder, Greg Austin, for an insightful conversation with Dr. Heidi Stanish, professor of exercise science at UMASS Boston.

Dr. Stanish shares her groundbreaking research on promoting physical activity and fitness among people with disabilities. Her journey into this field was inspired by her personal experiences and involvement in disability sports.

Tune in to hear Dr. Stanish discuss:
🗣️ The importance of challenging assumptions about physical activity for people with disabilities.
💪 The need for inclusive and adaptable fitness programs.
🧠 The evolving perception of disability and the push for healthy lifestyles for neurodivergent people.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about neuroadaptive training. 🌍💪

The Paradigm Shift in Disability and Fitness Dr. Heidi Stanish, a professor of exercise science at UMASS Boston, discusses her research on physical activity and fitness promotion among individuals with ...

🚴‍♂️ Exciting News! 🚴‍♂️

Our founder, Greg, is gearing up to participate in NLG's 23rd Annual Bike-a-thon. He is preparing to make his ride in the next three weeks.

Every dollar you donate will be DOUBLED thanks to a generous matching gift. That's right—your donation will have twice the impact, helping Nashoba Learning Group continue changing lives.

Ready to wheelie make a difference? Click here 👉 https://nashoba.app.neoncrm.com/forms/support-nlgs-annual-bike-a-thon

Thank you for your incredible support! 💙

🪩 Meet Coach Matt! 🪩

With a background as a West Coast Swing and Ballroom dance instructor, an Orangetheory Fitness Dual Studio Manager, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, and a Precision Nutrition Certified Nutrition Coach, Matt brings a wealth of experience to his roles. He began teaching dance in 2015 and co-founded a West Coast Swing instruction company with his wife, Desirae, in 2016. Currently competing at the All-Star level, Matt travels nationally and internationally to teach, compete, perform, and judge. When he's not working, he enjoys exploring with his wife and their rescue dog, Ben.

💪 What is your position at Inclusive Fitness? Center Manager and Coach! In addition to coaching athletes, I manage the schedule as well as everyone's billing accounts and keep track of center inventory.

📚/📺 What book/TV show are you currently reading/watching? How I Met Your Mother

🏋️ Favorite exercise to teach your athletes? Sandbell Slams!

🎵 Favorite song on your workout playlist? Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne

🍽️ Favorite healthy snack? Popcorn

⛰️ Favorite out-of-the-gym activity? West Coast Swing Dancing!

Why choose Inclusive Fitness? 🧐

From building strength and confidence to enjoying a sensory-friendly environment, our programs are tailored to each athlete's unique abilities and goals. Our expert coaches and personalized fitness plans ensure everyone can achieve their best. 🌟🏋️‍♂️

Join us and see the results for yourself! 🏆

⭐️ Meet Coach Kristin! ⭐️

With over a decade of experience in the fitness world, Coach Kristin has previously led multiple studios to success and knows how to build a community that keeps athletes engaged and motivated. She is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Level 2 Autism Fitness Certified Pro, AFAA Group EX instructor, and TRX Instructor.

Before diving into fitness, she was a music educator and oboist, with degrees from Ithaca College and the Crane School of Music. Fun fact: both of her parents were special educators, which allowed Coach Kristin the experience of working with neurodivergent people in various settings, including summer camps, schools, and day programs.

💪 What is your position at Inclusive Fitness? I'm one of the Co-Founders of Inclusive Fitness, and I'm currently the Director of Member Experience. I have the pleasure of getting to know new athletes and their families as we welcome them to our community during the touring and onboarding process. I also have a roster of 8-10 athletes who I train each week.

📚/📺 What book/TV show are you currently reading/watching? We're traveling to Italy this summer with our four kids, so I've been reading books and watching historical documentaries about the Roman Empire. I find it fascinating!

🏋️ Favorite exercise to teach your athletes? My favorite exercise to teach my athletes is the Farmer's Walk. Being able to lift and carry heavy objects safely is a skill we use just about every day.

🎵 Favorite song on your workout playlist? It's tough for me to choose a singular favorite song! I love music, particularly alternative rock and pop punk. My favorites include Blink-182, Foo Fighters, and Green Day. (If I had to choose ONE favorite workout song, it would be "Still Breathing" by Green Day....)

🍽️ Favorite healthy snack? My favorite healthy snack is fresh fruit. I'm currently obsessed with this season's cherries!

⛰️ Favorite out-of-the-gym activity? My favorite out-of-the-gym activities are going to live rock shows and traveling with my family.

Milestone Monday is here! 🏅 Our athletes keep on raising the bar! 💪 Way to go, your dedication is showing!🎉 👏

🌟 Meet Coach Dan! 🌟

Daniel’s journey in exercise began in early childhood with karate classes, and he later developed a passion for strength training in high school.

During his senior year of college, Dan interned at an adaptive training facility gaining experience working with neurotypical and neurodivergent teens and adults. He says this prepared him to excel as a coach at Inclusive Fitness!

⌚️ How long have you been with Inclusive Fitness?
Two years

🏋️ Favorite exercise to teach your athletes?
Squats and pushups

🎵 Favorite song on your workout playlist?
Painkiller by Judas Priest

🍽️ Favorite healthy snack?
Dates

⛰️ Favorite out-of-the-gym activity?
Hiking

An athlete working with Coach Dan tells us, "Dan is not only a coach, he is also a best friend, a fun person to be around, and just an awesome person!" 💪

It's that time again!! Milestone Monday! 🎉 💪 Huge shoutout to their dedication! 🏆 🌟

🎉 Shoutout to our incredible athletes who reached some HUGE session milestones this past week! 💪

Let’s celebrate their achievements together! Drop your congratulations in the comments below! 👇

Milestone Monday! Cheers to smashing those milestones, athletes!!! Your dedication and hard work are showing.🏅 We are so proud of you! 🏆

“The offering, known as Uber Caregiver, will allow Uber users to designate a caregiver to arrange, pay for and monitor rides for them. Caregivers will also be able to set up deliveries for individuals with disabilities or others they assist.”

Uber Launching Service To Help Caregivers The ride-sharing service Uber is introducing an option designed to make it easier for caregivers to get people with disabilities and others they assist from one place to another.

Big shout out to our newest top fans! 💎

Beth Kaufman Kramer, Mary Sethna

Oompa-loompa doopetee doo! We’ve got some pictures to share with you! 🍫

Last Friday’s movie night pajama party at Inclusive Fitness was scrumdiddlyumptious! We kicked things off with a fun warm-up, indulged in delicious concessions (shoutout to Popcorn for the People🍿 employing autistic and disabled adults), and then relaxed with a screening of Wonka.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the laughs and a world of pure imagination! 🌟

🌟 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🌟

We’re excited to share the latest episode of the Inclusive Fitness podcast, featuring Jonathan Gardner, a passionate self-advocate, and his incredible mother, Nancy Gardner, along with Maura Sullivan, Deputy Executive Director of the Arc of Massachusetts. 🎙️

Jonathan opens up about his journey through public schools and his advocacy work for people with disabilities. Nancy provides insight into her experience as a supportive mom and advocate, while Maura discusses her path to championing the rights of individuals with disabilities. 💪

Tune in to hear about the power of self-agency, the significance of effective communication, and the need for understanding and empathy in the medical community. This episode discusses creating opportunities for neurodivergent individuals in fitness, the importance of physical fitness, and the impact of advocacy. 🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♀️

Don't miss this inspiring conversation! Listen now and let us know your thoughts in the comments. 👇



Listen here 👉

The Power of Advocacy for People with Disabilities | Nancy and Jonathan Gardner and Maura Sullivan | The Inclusive Fitness Podcast Ep2 by The Inclusive Fitness Podcast This episode of the Inclusive Fitness podcast features Jonathan Gardner, a self-advocate, and his mother Nancy Gardner, as well as Maura Sullivan, the Deputy Executive Director of the Arc of Massachusetts. Jonathan shares his inspiring story of overcoming challenges in public schools and his journey...