Published: December 13, 2020
Article by: David Debolt | ddebolt@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
BORP’s programs are highlighted in this article as part of the Share the Spirit holiday holiday campaign, sponsored by the Bay Area News Group.
Article is featured on The Mercury News website.
Here at BORP, we’d like to encourage our participants to complete an important national survey about adaptive sport.
Created by Move United in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, this survey is expected to be the largest study into the impact of sport participation on the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities.
We need your help to amplify the voice of adaptive athletes!
What’s more, BORP will be eligible for a $500 grant from Move United if enough of our participants fill out this survey. So, by completing the survey, you also help BORP secure those funds.
If you are a person with a disability age 18+, please take 15 minutes to complete the survey: https://illinoisahs.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5bcnqHNSHVMre3X
Leia Cash
Leia Cash teaches World Dance For All! every Thursday from 1-2pm. The styles she draws from include but are not limited to: salsa, cha cha, merengue, swing, African, Brazilian samba, “old school” funk, disco and more. “I’m so excited to be teaching at BORP because it reaches out to MY community here in the East Bay and welcomes everybody regardless of what kind of body and abilities they have. The opportunity to dance and move with you is so close to my heart.”
The California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) wants to hear from you about any access barriers that prevent you from visiting and experiencing the California coast. Please take 10 minutes of your time to complete this online questionnaire focused on removing barriers to access for people with disabilities.
Feel free to share this questionnaire which will close on May 18. If you experience trouble filling out the survey contact Tim Gilbert or Laurel Kelly at 510-845-7459.
Thanks to the efforts of their teacher Laurin Kennedy a group of students from Oakland’s Cole School came on their first field trip to BORP in March. All of the students from Cole are nonverbal and wheelchair users and none of them had ever cycled before. Everyone got on a bike for at least one lap around Aquatic Park, and everyone had a great time. We asked Laurin what she thought of their first BORP experience:
Group photo of the kids from Oakland’s Cole School at the BORP Cycling center
BORP had a wonderful and meaningful impact on the lives of each of my students. Adaptive cycling opened a whole new world to them that they’d never had the opportunity to explore before. Each of my students has moderate/severe physical and intellectual disabilities, so they each require specialized equipment to access physical activity. BORP provided that equipment for us, helped us select the most appropriate adaptive cycle for each student, and then organized and facilitated a ride. My students had a blast!
If I had to pick one student who enjoyed his time most, I would choose Darius. Darius suffers from a neurodegenerative illness that has steadily robbed him of his physical and cognitive abilities over time. In the past, he was a typically developing child who had control over his mind and body. As an adult, Darius is often frustrated because he cannot do the things he used to do as a young boy. When he was on the adaptive cycle, he seemed to be more happy and free that I’ve ever seen him. The cycle allowed him to move his legs in ways that he is unable to when he is confined to his wheelchair. He seemed to really enjoy the wind in his hair, moving his legs, and spending time with his mother, classmates, and teachers in a fun environment.
The best part of BORP’s cycling program is how invested the staff are to help our students. BORP transported our classroom to and from school using the Borp bus, took the time and energy to help us pick out the most appropriate equipment, helped lift/transfer our adult students using their in-house lift, and then supported us on an adaptive cycling ride. For 10 adult students, this is not an easy task. Everyone at Borp was so supportive and had a great attitude throughout our whole experience. That’s what really made our whole trip even more meaningful.
Over the last three years, BORP Cycling and the Centre for Neuro Skills in Emeryville (CNS) have developed a great partnership serving both our missions. CNS is a residential rehabilitation program for people with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and strokes. Every Tuesday, a group of CNS clients and their therapists visit the BORP Cycling Center for a group ride. Most riders come for several months while they are enrolled in CNS programs and some continue to come independently afterward.
CNS Therapist Albert Santa Cruz has this to say about our programs:
“BORP provides additional recreation therapy for our patients and provides a physical activity in community-based areas. There are plenty of articles and studies showing the benefits of outdoor activities including motivation to exercise, enhancing a positive attitude and emotion, and reducing mental fatigue. BORP allows a break for patients who undergo intense therapy in a clinical setting for hours a day while still getting a different type of rehabilitation. Bicycling outdoors allows patients to feel a sense of community involvement through social reintegration and inducing a mindset of belonging and being able to see their progress in a practical setting. Another aspect of bicycling outdoors is the exposure to sensory experiences by seeing the bright grassy areas, the sunny skies, and vast bay area water. Participation has given our patients a sense of a “reset” that allows them to continue their formal therapies refreshed.
The staff and volunteers have been phenomenal and accommodate for our sometimes large groups. They assist with all fitting for all of our patients and make sure our patients are safe with appropriate equipment. They adapt their equipment for our varying impairments and body types. We appreciate the open dialogue that is available at BORP and hope to keep the BORP and CNS relationship for a very long time.”
Ray Ydoyaga
We interviewed CNS “graduate” Ray Ydoyaga about his personal experiences at BORP. Ray started out riding recumbent cycles with the CNS group, has become a regular independent rider, and just this month successfully got back on a two-wheel cycle.
BORP: What do you enjoy about BORP?
Ray Ydoyaga: It’s great to be able to have a regular and fun outdoor athletic workout after a major physical injury. This wouldn’t be possible for me without BORP’s special adaptive bikes. BORP is also ideally located at the juncture of multiple bike trails ranging from the very easy loop around Aquatic Park Lake, to hidden paths around Berkeley marina, and to challenging and serious rides up to either the Bay Bridge bike path or, going the other direction, Richmond, and all offering stupendous views. Pre-accident, I was a daily cyclist, so now post-accident, being able to do something physical again that i love has given me a lot of hope and improved my mental well-being.
BORP: Have you noticed a specific impact on your physical rehabilitation?
Ray: The repetitive cycling motions have definitely increased my strength, endurance, balance and overall mobility. My right side is still substantially weaker than left, but the regular cycling has given the right side a big boost.
BORP: What brought you to BORP?
Ray: In July 2016, I had a high-speed bicycle wipeout that caused a concussion and a spinal cord injury at neck level (C3). That level of injury almost always means being (required to use a wheelchair), but through luck, years-long rehab work and the care AND INGENUITY of a great physical therapist, SEAN REYNOLDS OF CNS, I am able to walk — with a pronounced limp and sometimes looks a bit like a drunken sailor, but still, it’s a self-propelled walk nonetheless. I have improved to the point where I will be taking my first solo ride on a regular two-wheeled bike very soon, and perhaps graduating from BORP’s fast three-wheeled trikes.
Jess Schlesinger
Long-time BORP fitness studio instructor, Jess Schlesinger will be offering her class two nights per week. Starting May 1st, Access Centered Yoga for Trauma and Pain will be offered Tuesday nights at 7:30-8:30 pm in addition to Thursdays. This is a donation based class, so students can attend for free and donate what they can, when they can.
You might be thinking enough already with the rain but the wildflowers are saying bring it on. It’s that time of year when people flock outdoors in search of the best places to see wildflowers. With our late rains, this year could prove to be dazzling. While I have not yet been in search of them this year I have in past years found that both Sunol Regional Wilderness in Sunol and Mori Point in Pacifica have been good choices for wildflower viewing. The Camp Ohlone Road trail at Sunol is hilly and for a manual chair user would require good upper body strength. The surface is aggregate with firm underlayment. Mori Point is flat and easy. Both places have accessible restrooms and parking.
If you’d prefer seeing the wildflowers from a moving vehicle you might want to head over to Niles and board the Niles Canyon Railway Wildflower train. This diesel powered locomotive travels through Nile Canyon and leaves from either Sunol or Niles, every Sunday, several times a day. Fare is $14 for adults, $8 for youth ages 3-12. A wheelchair lift is available for boarding and accessible restrooms are at both boarding points.
Whether you’re an avid poker player or a novice at best, anyone has a chance to make the final table at the BORP Poker Fundraiser, and this year was no exception. There was a first-time attendee, a regular, and a power soccer player and assistant coach at the table. But the person who won the tournament was Katherine Russell, who arrived at the tournament late because of a delayed flight, coming directly from the airport to the fundraiser. That’s how much she loves BORP!
The fundraiser had one of its best turnouts, with over sixty people participating. And while many were first-time players, one of the best things about the event is that people tend to come back year after year, making it feel like a fun game with family and friends, versus a cutthroat battle of competitors.
The tournament started out cautiously as everyone settled in, but by the third round, the “all in’s” were coming from every table and the first player was knocked out. Luckily this year we had instituted the ability for people to “buy back in” to the tournament by making another donation and almost everyone took advantage of this option which kept almost everyone playing in the tournament for the first two hours. From there people started dropping like flies. One could hear the cheers of joy and moans of despair as the last card in the hand was revealed to help someone win and derail someone’s hopes.
The final table had Adam, a power soccer player from Sacramento, against Katherine who helped to produce a documentary about power soccer. Adam was the chip leader by 4 to 1 at the start but Katherine clawed her way back, battling it out. Patience, savvy betting, and a few lucky cards put her over the top in victory. A spectator commented, “This kind of action should be televised!”
Thanks to everyone for supporting BORP power soccer and another successful poker fundraiser! With your contributions, we were able to meet our fundraising goal, raising more than $10,000! Mark your calendars for next year’s event February 23, 2019, to see your old poker buddies and make some new friends, too.
Big thanks to Bob Dubow for helping get the tournament started off with a poker tutorial that helped new and rusty poker players feel confident and comfortable participating. He did such a good job teaching people how to play one of the students knocked him out of the tournament! The tutorial drew a crowd and actually got people in the spirit to shuffle up and deal.
I’d also like to thank Jonathan Newman for setting up and making the venue look good, Betsy Dorsett and Daniel McDonnell for making sure everybody got registered, Danielle and Tiffany for quenching everyone’s thirst, and Sarah Dawn for providing the amazing food and treats.
This year more great support was also provided by Delta Gamma sorority throughout the night. They helped the entire event from set up to clean up and we couldn’t do it without them!
Go BORP!
In addition to her Monday Integrative Healing class, Valerie Jew is offering chair yoga once again Tuesdays at 1:00 PM. Chair Yoga Class adapts traditional yoga poses frequently practiced on a yoga mat to students using wheelchairs and walkers as well as those with other special needs. The chair replaces the yoga mat and becomes an extension of the body. Students participating in Chair Yoga explore asana and work on a range of motion and flexibility, strengthening muscles and joints, and reducing stress. These classes include yoga poses for the body, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques
Click here to pre-register online
BORP welcomes Julia “Jules” Folgelson to our team of Fitness Studio instructors. Jules believes everybody can practice yoga, whether it be on a chair, cushion or mat. Jules came to teach at BORP years after completing her yoga teacher training in Los Angeles. She leads a yoga practice rooted deeply in the breath and the spiritual practice of movement meditation – a balance of strengthening and stretching to heat up the body and cool down the mind – while always embracing alignment and safety. With a joyful, light-hearted approach, Jules provides a safe and playful space to meld the physical asana practice of yoga with the breath to create love and compassion for ourselves and others. Jules has a nurturing and playful teaching style, offering music, guided relaxation, and optional gentle hands-on adjustments. When not teaching or practicing yoga, Jules works as a social worker and therapist, which has deeply informed the compassionate way she approaches teaching.
Body Positive Yoga Flow is a ‘come as you are’ yoga class suitable for all levels. She teaches this as a Vinyasa style flowing class that focuses on linking conscious breath with mindful transitions between poses. The class will begin slow, build up to a vigorous standing sequence, and cool down with relaxing floor movements. Students can expect to build strength, flexibility, and concentration while heating the body and calming the mind. Modifications will be provided to make poses accessible for all levels.
Click here to pre-register online
The studio is located at the Ed Roberts Campus on the first floor: Suite 150 at 3075 Adeline St. Berkeley, CA 94703
For questions or suggestions contact the Health & Wellness Program Coordinator at fitness@borp.org or 510-849-4663 ext. 1319
Click here to view the BORP Fitness Studio schedule and pre-register for classes online
As you may know, there is a Mobility and Transportation EXPO being held in the ERC on April 14th. Longtime BORP yoga instructor Valerie Jew and co-teacher JoAnn Lyons will be teaching a free a class in the lobby area from 11-12pm! Also, during this expo, BORP Tai Chi master Ralf Somack will be offering free demos in the fitness studio.
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3075 Adeline Street, Suite 200
Berkeley, CA 94703-2578 |
info@borp.org
Phone: 510-849-4663 |
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