Helix Fitness for Caregivers was born out of my personal experiences as a caregiver to my son, Phineas, who has Foxg1 Syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes lifelong severe disabilities. When I became a single mom in 2020, I took on the responsibility to care for my own physical health to a new level and began rock climbing and attending fitness classes at my local gym. I wanted to be as strong as possible, both physically and mentally, for my son, my other children, and for myself. I quickly saw significant strength gains and my confidence was soaring. Injury prevention through exercise became important as well, and became a mainstay for my life. My passion for fitness was crafted in this space of both necessity and desire. I called this my life plan for preventative care.
In 2022 I had the idea to expand this preventative care plan to other caregivers and decided to get my certification as a Personal Trainer. Personal training is considered preventative care within the healthcare system and provides prehab as a way to prevent injury and chronic pain as much as possible. I received my certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) in November of 2022 and am beyond excited to offer this unique program to people like me, who know the physical demands of caring for a person with high needs. As easy as it is for caregivers to put their own needs to the side, it is imperative that we feel empowered to take charge of our own health and have the proper tools to care for our bodies as we care for those we love.
It is my privilege to support and encourage other caregivers in this journey we have been given with our loved ones. Stay strong, friends.
Kayla
Why the name Helix?
The helix is a spiral shape found throughout nature as a symbol of resilience, evolution and growth. It is found in plants, weather patterns, galaxies, and DNA strands to name a few.
When a plant root comes across a barrier during its growth, it summons even more energy, flexibility, and work to create a helix. When faced with a challenge, the roots response is to find a way. It does so by twisting and turning into a tightly woven formation of the helix, thereby conquering its former challenge and creating beauty and stability.
theresilienthelix.com
As caregivers, it is a necessity to adapt to the challenges that arise with resilience and strength. It takes a lot to consistently show up for another person with high physical needs.
The double helix found in a DNA strand is also a nod to my son, whose rare syndrome is caused by having a duplication of the foxg1 gene. Phin’s life has been my inspiration all along.
