If you’re a family member, teacher or friend or someone with special needs, and struggled to find fitness programs or facilities that meet the specific needs of your child, you’re not alone. Inclusively Fit was founded upon a very simple realization … many children, as well as adults with special needs, can greatly benefit from a personal exercise and fitness program.

Introducing Inclusively Fit, a place and approach to fitness and exercise as unique as the individuals it was created to serve. An organization where everyone understands a person’s physical well-being is strongly connected to their emotional well-being. And that physical accomplishment doesn’t just build stronger muscles, but a stronger sense of self.

We’ve asked ourselves, “What if?” Our answer is Inclusively Fit. A place that believes fitness is a journey best traveled with friends.

The ‘Entire’ Person Mission

Through fitness, Inclusively Fit strives to improve the ENTIRE person, regardless of ability, in preparation for everyday inclusion.

Founded in 2016 by Mark Ralko, Inclusively Fit is a niche operation. It was built on the simple notion that individuals with special needs require physical fitness, too. But, because individuals within this group all have unique challenges, one-on-one training is the only practical and most effective way to deliver it. Further, and perhaps most importantly, this one-on-one training must be delivered in a comfortable and safe environment designed to accommodate these special clients. When Inclusively Fit first opened it understood that this group of individuals would only thrive in a setting that is welcoming, that specializes in adaptive fitness, and that has trainers knowledgeable on the specific challenges each person in this population may face and how to execute an appropriate fitness program. Thus, the trainers at Inclusively Fit tailor each program to the specific individual, which ensures that what they accomplish in the gym can translate outside of it—in their communities and in their everyday lives.

A Note from Mark

My degree in Special Education—including a minor in Adaptive Fitness—along with my years of experience working in a special education classroom has given me the ability to first assess how each of our individual clients thinks and behaves, know what motivates them, and then how to best to design and implement an individualized physical fitness plan. Obviously, everyone is so different, and thus, so are their needs. As such, while developing and addressing physical fitness goals here at Inclusively Fit, we try to focus on the ‘Entire’ person. So, incorporated in our client workouts, we simultaneously address appropriate social behaviors, set out to build confidence and self-esteem, encourage a sense of accomplishment, and even address healthy eating. Overall, I like to say that this program covers the A to Z of tackling life—helping and preparing our clients for everyday inclusion.

When Inclusively Fit opened its doors in 2016, the word Entire was not part of our mission statement.

It is now.