Guest blog by Suzanne Hurwitz Wallach, Program Coordinator for the Initiative for Women with Disabilities
The Initiative for Women with Disabilities at NYU Langone Medical Center completed its 6th Indoor Rowing Program on Feb. 11th with a final indoor regatta! On ergometers, participants raced against their peers and beat their own personal records all in the name of fun and fitness.
The IWD aims to empower women with physical disabilities to pursue a healthy lifestyle. With Row New York, we are able to help participants build their love of fitness, feel part of a team, and become empowered by their strength and passion for rowing. Rowing is such an accessible sport and can be accommodated for so many different abilities, allowing all our participants succeed.
It was amazing to see the progress from week to week. Participants set goals and tracked their distance rowed every session. The growth they showed in their strength, speed and endurance was clear in the progress charts they kept. All of them surpassed their goals by the end of the program and gained confidence in their abilities as rowers. Participants have gained so much independence in their ability to transfer on and off the ergs and can communicate exactly what accommodations they need to train. It’s awesome to see how they have matured as rowers.
All of us at IWD can’t wait to get back on the water this summer and continue rowing for years to come!
