Utah CrossFit instructor starts ASL class for the deaf community

SANDY, Utah – When Jamie Hardman took her first ASL course back in high school, she never thought she would become a certified interpreter, let alone an ASL CrossFit instructor.

The opportunity to combine both of her skills presented itself this summer when Hardman saw the need for a CrossFit class in the deaf community.

“I was speaking to my friend who said, ‘The community actually really wants it, it’s something we constantly talk about, but we don’t have access,’” Hardman said.

She got to work and started posting about the class on her Healthy Babes Facebook page.

“I posted about doing a class to see if people would be interested and overnight it got about 70 comments,” she said.

This summer, she partnered with Aether Gym in Sandy to offer  ASL CrossFit classes and has been surprised at the turnout.

“So far it’s been great and people have loved it, and I just I hope it keeps growing,” she said. “It’s my hope in doing ASL CrossFit that clients that I have who are deaf themselves will become interested in this program and perhaps get certified and take this idea to their own gyms around the state or maybe nationwide.”

Chrystee Davenport is one of Hardman’s students and said being able to communicate with your instructor is crucial.

“CrossFit has different languages, different words, things that I don’t use,” Davenport said. “I don’t feel comfortable to ask for a full description or what I specifically want to know because I won’t get clear communication.”

She said she was glad Hardman stepped up and created the program.

“The main reason that I come to this class is because of the accessibility, I want to be involved. I want to know why CrossFit does what it does.”

Hardman teaches ASL classes two to three times a week with her next program starting in August.

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