Parkour isn’t just for athletes.
People of all abilities and ages stay active with the sport in fun, adaptable ways. By focusing on balance, strength, and movement, some tailored parkour programs meet participants where they’re at with their fitness.
Inclusive Parkour Gym
Residents at Gabriel Homes are starting their acrobatic journeys at MindShift Gym, a Reston-based fitness center. The gym specializes in parkour, aerial arts, and acrobatics classes designed for all skill levels. MindShift’s owner joined residents on a recent trip and offered a tour of the gym.
“Sessions with Gabriel Homes residents show how people of all abilities can have fun and benefit from participating in movements of all types. We strive to be a very welcoming environment and meet every individual where they are. Living up to our inclusive values is super easy with residents since they're so engaged with the parkour and dance classes!”
“MindShift doesn’t look like any other gym! You have to use your whole body to move around the obstacle course. I feel tired after each session, but it’s a great way to start the week!”
Inclusive Parkour Gym
The residents’ sessions at MindShift start with some warmups, mostly limbering the arms and legs. Once they loosen up, the residents excitedly look toward tackling the gym’s many obstacle courses. Some lessons include running up ramps and jumping over blocks.
No matter the exercise, the instructor checks that all participants are comfortable and confident at the gym. The instructor reteaches the steps if residents are uncertain how to climb over any objects. Some residents say they appreciate the second set of hands if any exercises are too challenging.
“The instructors are very nice with all of us! They do the exercises step by step with us so we can climb over all the obstacles. Their parkour skills are great, too; sometimes they show off cool tricks all over the gym.”