August 19, 2019
Amal Upadhyay, a hydrotherapist from Ahmedabad, has taught swimming
to over 600 children and adults with disabilities in the past 12 years. He
shares his experience as a teacher for people with disabilities and says he
is convinced about the healing powers of swimming.
The therapeutic effects of swimming for people with disabilities, especially
children, has been proved by research time and time again. It helps calm
children down, become less hyper and even helps increase cognitive skills of
children with developmental disabilities. Today, more parents are coming
forward to introduce their children to wonders of swimming and when they have
a trainer like Amal Upadhyay, they know their children are
in safe hands.
Amal, a hydrotherapist from Ahmedabad, has trained hundreds of children and
adults with disabilities in the past 12 years. He says swimming helps
everyone, regardless of the type of disability. Amal has trained people
across India. His journey as a teacher for people with disabilities started
after he met Ketan Patel, who works with children with
autism. Ketan, who signed up to learn swimming from Amal, suggested that he
work with disabled kids as well.
In Western countries, hydrotherapy for children with disabilities is
common. It is catching up in India. I worked along with Ketan Patel to
understand how to help children with disabilities like autism. In my 12
years, I am glad to have empowered many children. Swimming helps to enhance
their concentration and communication skills, their hyperactivity is
reduced and will have better eye contact as well. Swimming also helps in
having better sleeping patterns. There is a better oxygen flow throughout
their body that helps them a lot. – Amal Upadhyay,
Hydrotherapist
Amal has reached out to people with polio, Down syndrome, paralysis, and
heart stroke. According to him, every disability has its own need and
requirement. “As a trainer, I must understand that and work along with them.
I teach them new techniques according to their capabilities”, says Amal.
Children and adults with disabilities, he says, can learn anything with the
right guidance. “You just need to adjust things according to their
requirements. Swimming is the best and natural exercise. It has no side
effects”.
Amal works on a contract basis in Ahmedabad and is open to running workshops
and camps anywhere across India. This youngster is also trying to partner
with the Gujarat government to expand his reach. He aims to teach skills to
disabled kids from poorer families as well.
Amal, who has won many championships, is currently training children for the
Special Olympics. Among his students is
Sudha Iyer‘s 10-year-old son, who has autism. Sudha’s son
started learning from Amal two years ago and says the experience has
transformative.
“My son has benefitted a lot from swimming. It has helped him to calm down
and he gets exhausted in a good way”, says Sudha. The positive outcome has
also been the improvement in communication and concentration skills. “Now, he
is not undergoing any other therapies other than hydrotherapy. I would
suggest that all parents with disabled children make them learn swimming as
well. A coach like Amal has helped my son a lot”.
Contact Amal Upadhyay at +91 99784-12863.
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