Real stories. Real experiences.
We’ve been bringing real-life stories together to inspire, empower and connect people. Discover more of the experiences shared through Movement for Everyone.
Rebuilding your identity
Aaron Moon, former Royal Marine Commando who lost his leg on the battlefield. Aaron now has a new mission, to show others what is possible when you refuse to quit. His Reborn Mindset is Aarons initiative, which is a personal developing and resilience framework that he is teaching to others.
Disability in any form can be challenging, physically, mentally, and emotionally. When you're struck by life-changing injuries like Aaron, it takes a special kind of mindset, resilience and attitude to overcome these new daily challenges. The road to recovery is often long, lonely, and it takes strength of character. There's lots of rehab to complete and you need support from those around you.
As part of our Movement for Everyone campaign, we're also a mission to share positive stories like Aarons, raise awareness, and educate people how to become more inclusive practitioners. Throughout this page, we're sharing Aaron's story, which is truly inspirational.
Why it matters
We know that movement transforms lives. With nearly a quarter of the UK population living with a disability (mobility impairments being the most prevalent), exercise can help positively improve physical and mental health, as well as rehab outcomes and quality of life.
Whether it’s relearning how to complete household tasks or taking on a completely new challenge, the right movements performed in the right way results in greater independence. This results in a healthier and happier future for everybody, no matter their ability.
- Early physiotherapy drastically lowers the long-term reliance on medications or secondary surgical interventions.
- People with lower limb loss have increased odds of having more upper limb disabilities eight years post injury due to daily weight bearing, balance and power generation.
- When it comes to movement, below the knee amputation requires 40% more energy, whereas above-knee amputation requires up to 100% more energy.
- Only one out of six mobility-disabled people take part in their pre-amputation activities post amputation.
Sources: LimbPower (2023), Steel Bones (2026) and National Library of Medicine (2022).
Aaron Moon's story
Aaron Moon is a man who needs no introduction. He's an ex-Royal Marine who had his right leg amputated below the knee after the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by an improvised explosive device, or IED. Following that devastating injury, Aaron went on to recover, rebuilding himself physically, mentally and emotionally, effectively developing a new identity. This is what Aaron refers to as his Reborn Mindset.
After his injuries and following his military career, Aaron refused to allow his disability to hold him back, going on to become a professional golfer. But Aaron didn't stop there, he also went on to become the world’s first amputee indoor skydiving instructor, as well as launching a career as a motivational speaker and TV personality on Channel 4’s Hunted programme. More recently, Aaron has attempted his most ambitious challenge yet, attempting to cycle the entire 2,517 miles of Route 66 in just 22 days. His aim was to become the first below-knee amputee to cycle the full Route 66 on a standard non-adapted bike.
As part of our Movement for Everyone campaign, we caught up with Aaron on the back of his Route 66 attempt, where he talked candidly about his experiences, as well as the barriers and hurdles he has to overcome on a daily basis.
Finding the right coach
For the average client looking for fitness instructor or personal trainer it can be challenging, but when you have a disability, it's even more difficult to find a coach who can meet your needs. Everyone’s disability is unique to them because they have a unique set of experiences, challenges and emotions. A skilled fitness professional is highly empathetic, technically competent, and genuinely interested in their client as an induvial. They use a person-centred coaching approach which puts the client and their needs at the centre of everything.
We know that a good coach can change lives, but with the right education, good coaches can become great coaches, empowering others to transform their own lives for the better. If you are interested in working with clients that have disabilities, a great place to start is our Level 3 Exercise for Disability and Impairments course. This is a YMCA Awards regulated qualification that will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to work with clients who have a range of disabilities and impairments.
Be part of our mission
Together we can raise awareness and create a more inclusive fitness industry where access to wellbeing isn’t optional; it’s non-negotiable. Join the conversation on Instagram where we’re shining a light on the people creating a healthier future for everybody no matter their ability.
Whether you’re a professional or have lived experience, we want to hear your story about why movement matters to you. Use #MovementMatters and tag us in your post @hfe1.
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