S1E12 | Ally Armstrong- CrossFit & Being a Health Professional in a Wheelchair

Please welcome Ally Armstrong to My New Normal podcast! Ally is originally from Pennsylvania, but just recently moved to the San Diego area. She’s an Occupational Therapist and is starting work at a local school, as well as finding new hobbies to get involved in.

Before Ally moved to San Diego she was commonly referred to as someone with a disability, or with a wheelchair, or the disabled girl She’d never even heard the term “adaptive” until she got into the community in San Diego. And while she didn’t take offense, she also wished that people would realize that she was so much more than just her wheelchair. She’s an athlete, a professional, a woman that works out and does CrossFit.

Ally was injured when she was 17 in a sledding accident. She suffered a complete spinal cord break and was paralyzed. While a lot of people suffer depression and go through really dark times after their injury, Ally credits her faith with really not having any “down” time. She believes that this is the path that she was meant to take, and she’s dealt with as such.

She had an amazing support group, through her family and friends, and was really connected through her church and her faith. Which she credits to stepping out of her comfort zone and not letting her injury rule her life.

Ally is seriously an inspirational woman and I cannot wait for you to listen to this full episode!

In this episode we’re talking about:

• Ally’s injury and how she dealt with it
• How sometimes you have to just suck it up in life
• What a “complete” spinal cord injury means
• What “adaptive” means to Ally
• How laughter is really the best medicine in life
• What advice Ally would offer someone in her position

Find Ally Armstrong on instagram: @alstrongg

Listen to My New Normal Podcast here: YouTube iTunes Google Podcast Spotify

To check out Dr. T's Functional Training for the Adaptive Athlete Online Course (eligible for 0.5 CEU's for NSCA under Category D), visit: https://www.drtheresalarson.com/adaptive-trainers-course/

Help My New Normal raise $2,500 for Challenged Athlete Foundation by March 31st, 2019: http://support.challengedathletes.org/site/TR/Events/General?px=1289385&pg=personal&fr_id=1611