News

May 30, 2024

Member Spotlight: St. Christopher Fitness

Interested in more than just breaking a sweat, St. Christopher Fitness owners Jomilson and Theresa Alvarez are helping to break barriers. The husband-and-wife team were inspired to open the business in March 2021 after a family member was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), and have since worked to build an inclusive environment to empower individuals with mental, physical, and cognitive challenges to meet their fitness goals.

Welcoming all clients no matter their abilities, the facility is unique from other gyms thanks to the smaller space, different lighting, elements of mood, and sensory stimulation – all a concerted effort to welcome clients in a respectful and attentive way. Jomilson, who played baseball for 24 years, and Theresa, a former nurse for children with special needs, are both certified personal trainers with adaptive special needs certification.

For the couple, working with individuals with Down syndrome, ASD, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and rare genetic conditions does not mean easing the fitness routines, but adapting them to help each client thrive and crush their goals. The adaptive and individualized exercises are aimed at building strength and improving quality of life, range of motion, and coordination. Based on the need they’ve experienced for the service, the couple has plans to expand and open locations across the country.

For all of their effort, Theresa and Jomilson say the most rewarding part of what they do is the feedback they receive, and that they are “changing lives and bringing health and fitness to loved ones with disabilities.”

What started as a mobile service that brought fitness directly to clients has grown into a dedicated space inside the Clifton Park Center Mall, with community support growing as the business does. In fact, that support is one of the things the couple says they enjoy most about running the business in this area, noting that “the Capital Region truly values inclusivity.”

For Theresa and Jomilson, their Chamber membership has also been an important support system to help grow their business, thanks to the networking opportunities that help them connect with other entrepreneurs in addition to potential clients and partners.

In addition to personal training sessions, St. Christopher Fitness also offers Zumba classes and nutritional coaching services. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call (518) 553-0099 or visit their website.