Grand Opening of the Brand-New Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center Veteran’s Fitness Gymnasium

The new gym is equipped with the latest state-of-art fitness equipment for Veterans’ health, wellness, recreation, and sport conditioning needs with Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS). Not only is the new space considerably larger, but the design and equipment allow workouts for Veterans of all ages and abilities, from novice to athletes, including those in wheelchairs. 

“We built the gym to be able to accommodate all needs, so it has traditional endurance machines, such as treadmills, steppers, recumbent bikes, and rowers. Strength equipment includes traditional machines and free weights, and we added equipment for functional fitness and sport specific training.  Functional fitness allows you to strengthen specific motions that you need to move in life and in sports,” said Kristin Eneberg-Boldon, PT, DPT, PM&RS Program Manager of Rehabilitation Therapies. 

“We also have a blind rehabilitation specialist available to provide expertise in facilitation of independent skills for the visually impaired Veterans, who want to use the gym,” said Guillermo (Joel) Carbon, Supervisory Occupational Therapist and Army Veteran. 

Whether it’s training for a marathon or the national games, increasing range of motion, or even just improving overall health, there is something for everyone. Rehabilitation therapists are available at the new gym to help assist Veterans with exercises and facilitate group programs.

Cherie Carpenter, an Army Veteran, has been exercising at the gym at Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center for over a decade.  

“It isn’t just about bodybuilding; it’s about balance. Getting your balance if you are older and being able to take care of your bone health in a healthy way by learning some exercises to do that are not going to hurt your bones and will help your balance, so you won’t be on a walker,” said Carpenter.

Unlike a typical gym, Sepulveda's Veteran's Fitness Gymnasium is designed as a place for Veterans to improve their health in a safe environment with support and camaraderie from rehabilitation therapists and fellow Veterans.

“It’s a safe space for Veterans because you develop these strong bonds over the time while you are exercising or attending programs at the fitness center. It’s not just the physical health aspect of it, but the psychosocial aspect of being able to talk to people and open up to others with shared experiences,” said Carbon.  

Carpenter loves using the bikes for a cardio workout while enjoying good conversation with fellow Veterans on the bikes next to her.

“If somebody is just talking to you, and goes, ‘Oh I know what you mean because this is happening to me,’ somehow you feel better too. That you are not alone in your pain,” said Carpenter. 

As a Veteran only gym, Veteran feedback is another important component to making this a safe and special place designed for Veterans.

“The Veterans are critical stakeholders to the success of our efforts here. We do take the Veterans feedback seriously, and make adjustments based on the feedback,” said Carbon. 

With dedicated space, also comes a larger capacity to serve more Veterans. PM&RS is looking to expand programming and looks forward to more Veterans participating in adaptive sports opportunities, now that there is another space for Veterans to train in, according to Eneberg-Boldon. Veterans participating in the national adaptive sports events can train with their team and coaches in a group setting, but also have the option for individual workouts at the new gym, our outdoor fitness area, or in individual rehabilitation therapy spaces.

Fitness assessments and workout planning are available by appointment with Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation therapists. Veterans who need continued training can schedule individual follow-up sessions with their therapist or join a group class. Veterans who are cleared to use the equipment independently will not need an appointment and can access the gym Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., excluding federal holidays, in building 23.