Dismissing disabilities: Lynn K. Poole is proof the physically disadvantaged can live up to most of life's challenges

Lynn K. Poole is proof the physically disadvantaged can live up to most of life's challenges.

For most aerobic instructors, passing the written and practical certification examination is just one achievement of many in a fulfilling fitness career. For Lynn K. Poole, one of the nation's first paraplegics to be AFAA certified, becoming an aerobics instructor was much more - it was the opportunity of a mostly non-active lifetime.

As an infant, Poole survived a malignant tumor of the spinal cord. Her childhood years were spent undergoing numerous surgeries to fuse her fragile spine. Other than walking and an occasional swim, she rarely participated in any type of physical activity. At age 22, one year after graduating from college, she suffered a spinal cord injury from a fall. Becoming a paraplegic, Poole lost her ability to walk. Her general health gradually began to decline as well.

It wasn't until Poole started using free weights when things turned around. For the aerobic portion of her workout, her trainer built an upper body ergometer (an arm crank with tension adjustment) out of an old bicycle and a dog leash to provide tension. "When I got started, I tried not to look at the whole picture," says Poole. "There was so much to overcome. But day by day I started noticing changes.

"My upper body strength improved, and my stamina and endurance increased," she adds. "My entire attitude began to take on a more positive dimension."

Poole continued her program until she eventually found another personal trainer certified in Adaptive Fitness Instruction (AFI). After using free weights, pulleys, a modified cross-country trainer and an ergometer, her trainer soon encouraged her to attend a local aerobics class. "It was awkward at first to join in an aerobics class with able-bodied people," says Poole. "But I learned I didn't need to compare myself to other people in class. Fitness truly is more than physical - it's an integrated state of mind and body. For me it has evolved from an exercise program into a lifestyle that provides me more energy, greater self-esteem teem and a more positive outlook on life."

Poole's new, improved outlook helped pave the way to think about starting her own business - Power Plus, Inc. But it wasn't until a fateful meeting in California with Jack Lalanne that it became a reality. "I shared all my fitness achievements with him," she says. "He recognized my concern for providing fitness opportunities for people with disabilities. He said I was just the one to fulfill that need - which turned out to be just the push I needed."

To learn more about specific methods for teaching adaptive aerobics, Poole took the "Fitness is For Everyone" course taught by National Handicapped Sports. The four-day workshop gave her an overview of adaptive fitness instruction techniques. She also spent three months last fall with a world-class wheelchair athlete an racer. "He taught me a great deal about weight training, improving my form and adapting weight equipment for my use as a paraplegic," says Poole. "I now bench press 70 pounds, and my goal is a body weight of 104."

Poole's career goal is to introduce Power Plus to other fitness clubs, as well as to companies and health care providers. Recently, the company has been approved to become a course provider for IBM's corporate wellness program, "A Plan For Life." The federal government has also contracted with Power Plus to teach classes at its employee health center in downtown Atlanta.

"My goal is to share with others what fitness has meant to me - how it has improved my mental attitude and physical well-being," says Poole. "Achieving that goal means motivating people to realize they are capable of doing it too."

Natalie Jean Wilson is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles, California.

didn't need to compare myself to other people in dass. Fitness hdy is more than physical-if s an integrated state of mind and body. For me it has evolved from an exercise program into a hfestyle ffiat provides me more energy, greater self-m teem and a more positive outlook on hfe."

Poole's new, improved oudook helped pave the way to think about suffig her own business-power Plus, hic. But it wasn't until a fateftd meeting in Calffoniia with Jack Lalanne that it became a reafity. 'I shar-ed aU my fitness achievements with him," she says. "He recognized my concem for providing fitness oppoftffities for people with disabflities. He said I was just the one to ffiff that need-which tumed out to be just the push I needed."

Toleammoreaboutspecificmethodsforteaching adaptive aerobics, Poole took the "Fitness is

For Everyone' course taught by National Hand capped Sports. The four-day workshop gave h an overview of adapfive fitness instrucfion niques. She also spent three months last fau ing with a world-class wheelchair athlete an racer. "He taught me a great deal about trafiffig, improving my fon-n and adapting equipment for my use as a paraplegic," says Poo "I now bench press 70 pounds, and my goal is body weight of 104."

Poole's career goal is to introduce Power to other fitness clubs, as wiu as to companies health care providers. Recendy, the company ha been approved to become a course provider fo IBM'S corporate wellness program, 'A Plan Fo Life." The federal govemment has also contra with Power Plus to teach classes at its emplo health center in downtown Adanta.

"My goal is to share with others what fitnes has meant to me-how it has improved my tal atfitude and physical weff-being,' says Poo "Achieving that goal means motivating people reahze they are capable of doing it too.' n

Natalie fean Wilson is a fteelance uyriter lizfing in Angeles, Calihmia.

COPYRIGHT 1992 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group