Penny Hlavaty, Member
My name is Penny Hlavaty. I have Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative blinding eye disease. I have struggled with, – I cannot do that – for many years. Low self-confidence has kept me from joining a gym in the past due to my vision limitations. In November 2018, with the support of my husband Rick, I became a member of Chuze Broomfield.
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt
I started out taking the Friday morning Aqua Class with Charity. Because of my blindness I struggled being able to follow Charity’s moves. Another instructor, who was in the pool, began to help me with the moves so I wouldn’t get frustrated and want to leave the pool. After class Charity stayed and worked with Rick and I for over two hours on what her moves are and how we could adapt them in her class. She kept stressing to me how the class is for me to have fun and just keep moving and not worry if I’m not doing the moves 100% correctly.
Even after Charity stayed and worked really hard with me, I kept questioning if this Aqua Class really is for me. I returned in January to give it another try. I received a very, very friendly welcome back from Charity and the ladies that take her class. That made me know I was supposed to be in the class. Charity knew I was struggling so she asked Jen, one of her long time students, to work with me to help boost my confidence. I continue to take the Friday morning Aqua Class because I know what a great instructor Charity is and how she feels about everyone.
After several weeks of Friday morning Aqua Class I started thinking, “Okay you must do another thing you think you cannot do.” My husband, Rick, talked with Stephanie, who is the instructor for the Thursday Barre Class. He asked if she would have a problem with someone with low vision taking her class? Stephanie told Rick she would love to have me in class. Well my uncertainty and feeling of – nope I can’t do that class – was kicking in again.
First day in Barre Class was “What was I thinking?” It was a great workout that pushed me physically and mentally. Stephanie talked to Rick and I after class about how great it is to see people with disabilities wanting to get out and push themselves beyond their boundaries.
Sighted people see with their eyes while blind people see with someone’s heart and personality.
After taking Thursday Barre Class and Friday Aqua Class for a couple months, I started to think, “I got this, so let’s see what else I can challenge myself with?” Again – “What was I thinking?” I asked about other classes and was told to take the Wednesday morning Aqua Class. I introduced myself to the instructor Ruth and gave her a little bit of information on my blindness. “Nothing to worry about says Ruth. You’ll do great and if you have any questions, I’m here for you.”
Sighted people see with their eyes while blind people see with someone’s heart and personality. I’ve been very blessed to have Charity, Stephanie and Ruth’s loving hearts welcoming me into their class so I can learn from them, and they can hopefully learn a little from me as a blind person.