Gym Hosts Classes For People with Disabilities

East Stroudsburg, Monroe County - A gym in the Poconos is offering fitness classes for people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

About two dozen people get together at Four Corners Health and Fitness in East Stroudsburg every other week. Gym owner Jason Cronan helps them get their blood pumping with kickboxing and hip hop moves. He said, "Special needs people need fitness services like anyone else that would come to the gym."

They sweat it out for an hour and a half with plenty of encouragement from Jason and eachother.

It's hard work but it's also fun. Monique Hughey of East Stroudsburg likes, "The boxing, the kicking, the punching, everything about it." Bobby Owens of Stroudsburg added, "It's good to blow some steam off."

The class is part of a recreation and Socialization Program through Fitzmaurice Community Services. It's called The Options Program. Debbie Smith helps run it. She said, "They might be home alone all day if they didn't have the Options Program."

Working out doesn't just help their bodies it also improves their social skills. Smith said, "It's very important just to build their self esteem."

The class is a one two punch providing fitness and friendship.

The Options Program is partially funded by Monroe County. But most of the money comes from the clients and their families.