Published on 12, July, 2020
I normally link negative experiences to the fact that I’m autistic and tend to think about how I struggle with things.
Gyms are places I find overwhelming, bright lights, lots of people, no idea what I’m actually doing.
I’ve found a gym with soft lighting, who gave me a timetable of times the gym is generally less busy and took the time free of charge to show me equipment I would realistically use.
I have now attended a few yoga classes with the same instructor who without prompt, changes the lights from spotlights, does not use music, switches on and off the AC so there is limited noise and it is only on when required.
He also does not give vague instructions about breathing and is literal in the timings and gives options for you to find which rhythm suits you best. He does a meditation at the end where he talks quite literally and tells you to think of situations where you believed you felt (.e.g joy, proud, safe) and asks you to recognise what you physically feel in your body to help recognise these emotions and generate them.
I hope that as there is more awareness and acceptance that more gym instructors will operate this way as I used to believe that I hated all forms of exercise.
I wondered if there is any other autistic females who enjoy physical fitness who are able to share what works for them and how to communicate this so I could perhaps find more things that I enjoy.
That sounds like a brilliant gym Sam. I haven't found a gym that I'm comfortable in yet but I have recently started 1 to 1 yoga sessions with a yoga instructor and I'm really enjoying it. I started it as a way to reconnect with my body after past emotional trauma /Complex PTSD. I always thought that I was uncoordinated and had poor balance but my teacher says I am actually very controlled and aware of my body which has massively improved my confidence. It seems that it was my difficulty in understanding the instructions that meant that I couldn't do yoga in the past but, as long as my teacher explains things clearly, I'm able to do more than I thought. The other thing that I've found really helpful is that she asks me if I'm comfortable doing something and always gives me the option to say no.