Body
At Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Adaptive Sports & Fitness Center, strength is measured not only in muscle, but in the resilience and support of its community. Every day, members encourage one another, celebrate progress and form bonds that make the center more than a fitness facility — it is a place of hope.
For people living with Parkinson’s disease, exercise is one of the most powerful tools for managing symptoms. Regular exercise can improve balance, strength, flexibility and overall quality of life. Being able to monitor progress helps participants and staff see the impact of their hard work and make adjustments as needed.
Thanks to a generous gift from members Faye Katt and Ganesh Natarajan, the fitness center has a new tool to measure progress more accurately — a body composition analyzer. This advanced technology goes beyond weight or body mass index, providing detailed insights into muscle development, body fat percentage and even right–left muscle balance. These measurements help our exercise physiologists design safer, more personalized exercise programs and track improvements over time — critical for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Faye and Ganesh made this gift in memory of Pninah Zucker, a beloved participant whose energy and joy helped shape the community. With her smile and welcoming presence, Pninah played a key role in forming the vibrant Parkinson’s group that thrives today. Group members attend classes daily, support one another and even have a dedicated table at the local café near the gym.
Faye and Ganesh are pillars of the community at the Adaptive Sports & Fitness Center. Despite living with Parkinson’s disease, Ganesh has shown remarkable resilience, improving his strength, balance and endurance in just a few months. Faye is a devoted care partner, always supportive and celebrating every gain, including their recent milestone: completing the 74.6 mile walk on the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Their gift will empower hundreds of fitness center members and enable the team to provide the most accurate, personalized care possible.
