In December, Peloton announced Logan Aldridge as its first-ever adaptive training consultant. Now, Aldridge is a full-fledged strength coach — the first to teach adaptive strength training to the platform. He has brought adaptive fitness to Peloton’s millions of users around the world through the initial rollout of standing and sitting classes designed for people of all abilities. There are more courses to follow.
Aldridge told reporters that the athlete has a background in developing adaptive training programs and imparting “knowledge, awareness and education” to fitness professionals to welcome people of all abilities into their gyms, classes and athletic facilities. But for him, Peloton is the missing link between fitness instructors who want to make their work more inclusive and people with disabilities who face physical and psychological barriers, enabling them to embark on a fitness journey.
“He said: “I realized … we could give this person [disabled] tools on their TV and on their phone to log into an app like the Peloton app, choose an exercise program and Start exercising. “Let’s get started. That’s what I came for when I created my adaptive training solution. We just need to get moving.” (See: How disabled athlete Zion Clark makes fitness more accessible to people with disabilities and injuries.)
“Let’s go” isn’t an empty slogan for Aldridge, who lost his left hand, his main force, in a boating accident at age 13. During his hospital stay, he was surrounded by well-meaning doctors who warned him that if he had only one arm, everything would be difficult or impossible. “He recalled: “I was told, ‘Logan, you might have a really hard time writing,’. “”Why can’t I write? ‘ he thought to himself, then quickly wrote his mother a birthday card to prove to himself that he could do it. ‘It’s more like trivia than actual letters, but it’s readable,’ he quipped. ! “.
Aldridge was a very active kid who loved sports such as water skiing and surfing from an early age, but his accident completely changed his approach to fitness. “[Training] is no longer this cool tool to help me skate better,” he explained. “Fitness is the most important thing for me right now, it’s crucial for me to be able to compete with my peers.
During his hospital stay, he said, he used a Chinese meditation ball and climbing grip trainer to keep fit, and with the help of a specialized support system, he kept him motivated. The support system even included a surprise call from professional surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack nine months before Aldridge’s accident. She simply told him that it would be fine. That’s all he needs to know he’s not alone, he said. (Related: Surfer Bethany Hamilton on the Importance of Creating an Inclusive Environment for Adaptable Athletes)
Aldridge knows from experience and conversations with many people with disabilities how difficult it can be to start exercising, and his aim is to create a safe space for everyone to achieve their potential, he explained. “We, as individuals, as human beings, are far more capable than we know or believe,” Aldridge said. For people like him who are told they can’t achieve what they want, whether in fitness or otherwise, he represents the world of possibility.
“I still have to pinch my fingers and think I’m in this position, in a leadership role, to be able to make an impact and really send that exact message: I’m not here for you, for you,” he said. the ability and your ability to raise expectations. “I’m here to show that there are creative ways that if we don’t fix ourselves on the problem, we can find a solution.”
For Aldridge, fitness is a particularly welcome space for everyone, he explained. He is heartened when people tell him that his workouts have encouraged them or their children to exercise, whether they have permanent impairments, temporary impairments, or no adaptive requirements at all. “Everyone has their place when it comes to sport, activity, exercise, empowerment through exercise, and what I’m doing here is: make individuals aware that their capabilities are now in them.” (Related: What people don’t know about staying healthy in a wheelchair)
However, leading a Peloton program is not just about developing the knowledge and skills to make adaptive training a reality. It’s also about having fun, Aldridge said. “Our background music was great. I was laughing all the way. We created this relaxed camaraderie, and for me, that’s the special ingredient that will take away a lot of the fear factor of fitness,” he said. “It’s about experience as much as it’s about working out effectively and the knowledge you can gain from doing it,” he said. “You get from doing it with a group of people and doing a difficult thing,” Aldridge said. The power felt in the thing is just that — it satisfies every box. “That’s exactly what we’re supposed to do with adaptive training [and] fitness as a whole.”