226: CrossFit for Our Community with Karen Hurley

Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast

It can be difficult for families to find fitness classes oriented toward individuals with different abilities, whether neurodivergence or physical. However, an emerging fitness category is designed for those who need adaptive and inclusive therapy.

On this episode of Parenting Impossible, Annette sits down with guest Karen Hurley, a physical therapist and strength and condition specialist with more than 20 years of experience. Karen received a bachelor’s degree in educational studies from Brown University, where she was a varsity athlete and captain of the women’s gymnastics team. She then received a master's degree in physical therapy from Boston University. Karen has worked in various settings and spent the past eight years as a districtwide physical therapist for a local school district. Karen is the founder and president of A.I.M. Therapy located in Needham, Massachusetts, which offers adaptive inclusive movement therapy, including CrossFit and functional fitness sessions for kids, teens, and adults with autism, ADHD, processing challenges, and anxiety.

Annette and Karen explore Karen’s background as a physical therapist, creating connections with students, and how that ultimately led to her establishing her business, A.I.M. Therapy. You’ll also hear what makes CrossFit an inclusive and adaptable activity, who she works with, and what Unified Sports is. Karen explains how the goals of her business have changed since founding it, what makes A.I.M. unique, and why CrossFit benefits neurodiverse athletes. Finally, she outlines how A.I.M. meets clients where they’re at, her encouragement for someone hesitant to attend these classes, and what you can do to get started with adaptive and inclusive therapy in your community.

Adaptive and inclusive therapy can tremendously impact communities where it’s offered. Karen Hurley is excited to share the difference it can make for individuals with different abilities.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Karen Hurley’s background working as a physical therapist with students, creating meaningful connections with them, and how that led to teaching CrossFit
• CrossFit as a scalable, inclusive, and adaptable activity
• Why Karen works primarily with individuals with disabilities and how it led her to open her own business
• An explanation of Unified Sports and the Special Olympics
• How the goals of Karen’s business have changed over time because of the importance of community
• A.I.M. (Adaptive Inclusive Movement) Therapy and what makes it unique from other adaptive and inclusive classes
• A typical day at A.I.M. Therapy
• What differentiates adaptive and inclusive CrossFit from traditional physical therapy
• CrossFit’s variability and how that benefits athletes with neurodiversity
• Relative high intensity scaled to meet you where you’re at, which is functional fitness
• The encouragement Karen gives to those who are hesitant to attend her classes
• Her advice for those who would like to start their own adaptive and inclusive therapy in their communities

Resources from this Episode

• adaptiveaimtherapy.com

• www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093139387607

• www.instagram.com/aim_therapy

• www.linkedin.com/in/karen-hurley-9141b41a2

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Episode Credits

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