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Channeling emotions through physical fitness or mental strategy

A local couple has created a nurturing workout space for their son, who lives with autism, and for others who need the same type of support. To exercise the mind, Kavyashree Mallanna teaches the game of chess.

Channeling emotions through physical fitness or mental strategy

A local couple has created a nurturing workout space for their son, who lives with autism, and for others who need the same type of support. To exercise the mind, Kavyashree Mallanna teaches the game of chess.

SUPPORT. >> NICE. >> INSIDE INCLUSIVE FITNESS IN ROXBURY, YOU WILL NOT FIND THE FANCY LIGHTS AND LOUD MUSIC COMMENTED BIG-NAME GYMS, NO SLAMMING WEIGHTS EITHER. YOU WILL FIND A COMMITMENT TO BUILDING CONFIDENCE. >> WE DON’T HAVE MUSIC. PUT FILMS IN THE WINDOWS SO LIGHT CAN COME IN, BUT THERE IS NO STIMULUS. WE CHOSE COLORS THAT ARE CALMING. NICOLE: GREG AND CHRISTINA OPENED THE FACILITY LAST YEAR, INSPIRED BY THEIR LOVE FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS. >> WE MET AT A GYM. NICOLE: THEIR LOVE FOR THEIR SON, LUCAS. HE IS THRIVING AS HE LIVES WITH AUTISM. THEY NOTICED THAT STAYING ACTIVE HELP HIS EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND AFTER HIS FIRST TRIATHLON -- >> HE WAS PACKING UP HIS THINGS AND HE SAID, I CAN DO ANYTHING. IT IS A MOTTO THAT WE HAVE CARRIED FORWARD THAT REPRESENTS THE SENSE OF PRIDE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT HE FELT IN COMPLETING THAT WITH US, HAS CARRIED FORWARD TO THIS DAY. NICOLE: THEY TELL US THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP NARROW DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS BUT FEW GYMS DESIGNED WITH SENSITIVITIES IN MIND. >> THERE ARE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, BUT THEY ARE USUALLY SHORT-LIVED OR THEY ARE SPECIFIC TO A SPORT. THAT IS NOT ALWAYS APPROPRIATE. >> I’M ALWAYS REALLY EXCITED. NICOLE: FAMILIES HERE WORK TOGETHER. CHERYL ENROLLED HER DAUGHTER AFTER SEEING A SIMPLE WORD WITH SO MUCH MEETING. >> I HEAR INCLUSIVE AND MY EARS POP UP. NICOLE: SHE WAS NOT QUITE SURE IT WAS A FIT. JORDAN HAS DOWN SYNDROME. IT TURNS OUT, IT WAS MORE THAN A MATCH. >> IT WAS BEYOND ANYTHING I COULD IMAGINE. I EXPECTED HER TO DO SOME THINGS, BUT HE GOT HER TO DO THINGS -- AND THEY WERE REGULAR EXERCISES. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE INSTILLED INTO THE BUSINESS IS GIVING PEOPLE THEIR OWN VOICE. ONCE AN ATHLETE FINDS THEY ARE CAPABLE, THEN THEY CAN ACCELERATE ON THEIR FITNESS LEVEL, THEY CAN FIND OUT HOW TO APPLY STRENGTH TRAINING TO OTHER MODALITIES. NICOLE: CONFIDENCE ALLOWS THESE ATHLETES TO -- >> RAISE THE BAR. NICOLE: FINDING THEIR VOICE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN GROW IS NOT JUST ABOUT FITNESS. >> WE ARE NOT HERE JUST TO RUN FASTER. WE WANT TO TRANSLATE INTO REAL LIFE, FUNCTIONAL SKILLS LIKE WORKING IN A GARDEN, GOING TO THE WORKPLACE. NICOLE: LUCAS IS NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPRESSING HIS ABILITIES THROUGH SPORT. >> I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT. NICOLE: IT IS A GAME OF STRATEGIC CONTEMPLATION THAT HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER PLAYERS FOR MORE THAN 1500 YEARS, THOUGH THE ORIGINS OF CHESS ARE UNKNOWN, MORE PEOPLE COMPETE THAN ANY OTHER SPORT IN THE WORLD. SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS GAME THAN MOST. SHE IS ONE OF NEW ENGLAND’S TOP PLAYERS, CURRENTLY THE HIGHEST RATED FEMALE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. SHE HAS AN EXPERT LEVEL RATING FROM THE UNITED STATES CHESS FEDERATION. >> I WAS AROUND 6, 6 .5, I SAW MY MOM PLAYING WITH MY ON. -- WITH MY AUNT. NICOLE: FROM THE BASICS TO WINNING COMPETITIONS IN INDIA, WHEN SHE FOUND HERSELF IN THE STATES WORKING AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER, POLL WORKERS MYSTIFIED BY THE GAME OF STRATEGY ASKED FOR LESSONS. THAT SET HER ON A PATH FROM STUDENT OF THE GAME TO TEACHER. >> THAT IS HOW EVERY GAME IS UNIQUE. CHESS IS A COMBINATION OF SCIENCE, ART AND SPORTS. NICOLE: A SPORT? >> WE HAVE A WIN, A LOSS, WE HAVE DRAWN. WHEN PEOPLE THINK IT IS A SLOGAN, THEY ARE WRONG. EVERY SECOND MONTH CONSTANTLY THE MIND IS AT WORK. NICOLE: SHE TEACHES CHILDREN AND ADULTS BECAME VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON. SHE SAYS IT HELPS TO DEVELOP CONCENTRATION, DECISION-MAKING SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE. IT WAS A MOMENT IN INDIA WHEN SHE SAW A PLAYER WITH CEREBRAL PALSY BEING CARRIED INTO A TOURNAMENT, THAT INSPIRED HER TO FORM ORGANIZATION, CELESTIAL MAYANS AND A PROGRAM CALLED, EXPRESSED THROUGH CHESS. >> WE SPONSOR CHILDREN WHO ARE ABLE TO GO OUT AND PLAY MORE TOURNAMENTS. NICOLE: THE IDEA IS TO BUILD A BRIDGE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT NATURALLY DEVELOPS WHEN TWO PEOPLE SIT DOWN IN COMPETITION AND REACH THOSE WHO OTHERWISE STRUGGLE TO FIND WAYS TO COMMUNICATE. SHE FUNDS AND RUNS PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN INDIA WHO HAVE VERY LITTLE SOCIALIZATION OUT RIGHT OF THE SCREEN. >> THEY ARE FROM A TOUGH BACKGROUND, A STRUGGLING BACKGROUND AND THEY ARE ALL HEARING-IMPAIRED, NO ONE CAN TALK. THEY JUST WATCH TV, NO. THEY HAVE THIS GAME. WE INITIATED CHESS CLASSES FOR THEM. THEY PLAY AND THEY FOUND THEM MUCH STRONGER. NICOLE: CHESS IS A GAME THAT ENHANCES THE MIND AND GIVES PLAYERS OF ALL ABILITIES A PLACE OF BELONGING. >> AND THAT IS CHECKMATE. ERIKA: BACK TO INCLUSIVE FITNESS, THE AUSTINS HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND THEIR GYM BUSINESS. THEY HOPE TO OPEN LOCATIONS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE BOSTON. IN ADDITION TO SERVING MORE CLIENTS, AN EXPANSION WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO NEURO-DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS. FINALLY TONIGHT, STR
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Channeling emotions through physical fitness or mental strategy

A local couple has created a nurturing workout space for their son, who lives with autism, and for others who need the same type of support. To exercise the mind, Kavyashree Mallanna teaches the game of chess.

Inclusive Fitness is a company dedicated to helping neurodiverse people, their families, and other caregivers create the healthy lifestyles they want and deserve. Inclusive Fitness is a unique combination of people, programming, and a place (physical and virtual) where neurodiverse and neurotypical people alike can come to create a healthy lifestyle together.She is a chess champ turned teacher and nonprofit founder of Express through Chess, Kavyashree Mallanna teaches courses in the game that builds memory and confidence.

Inclusive Fitness is a company dedicated to helping neurodiverse people, their families, and other caregivers create the healthy lifestyles they want and deserve. Inclusive Fitness is a unique combination of people, programming, and a place (physical and virtual) where neurodiverse and neurotypical people alike can come to create a healthy lifestyle together.

She is a chess champ turned teacher and nonprofit founder of Express through Chess, Kavyashree Mallanna teaches courses in the game that builds memory and confidence.

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