Trainers: Fitness helps beat addiction

Published 4:00 pm Thursday, January 30, 2014

Local fitness and mixed martial arts trainers visited the Clatsop County Courthouse Thursday and urged those recovering from substance abuse to seek the camaraderie and good health that comes with working out.

The trainers spoke to a courtroom full of local drug offenders who are participating in the Clatsop County Drug Court, an alternative to incarceration for those arrested on drug-related charges.

The trio from Valhalla Alpha Fitness School of Combat in Seaside encouraged the group to be active during their recovery and beyond, whether through mixed martial arts training or Alpha Fitness, a combination of strength and conditioning.

The drug court is held in Circuit Judge Philip Nelsons courtroom and has been running since 2001. During weekly meetings at the courthouse, participants share their struggles with each other, Nelson and their probation officers.

The program takes about a year to complete and includes drug treatment, home visits and routine drug testing.

Paula Hovden, Nelsons judicial assistant, brought the trainers Thursday to speak about how fitness can be an outlet and said former drug court participants are members of the gym.

It just keeps them in that social environment and around good people, Hovden said.

Part of recovery is changing lifestyles and friend groups, she said, this place allows you and gives you that opportunity.

Ira Evansen, owner of Valhalla and a mixed martial arts fighter, said that its a family atomosphere at his gym.

We get together all the time going out to the movies and team dinner nights, said Evansen, of people in the training programs.

When youve got that many positive people around you, its almost impossible to fail, he said.

Jordan Guenther manages mixed martial arts fighters at Valhalla and told the group that staying active is a way to stay out of trouble.

Its just a lot of fun, said Guenther. If you can have fun working out, then youre going to stick with it.

Guenther said people who come from a rough upbringing or might have used drugs can be risk-takers and that personality trait can lead to finding mixed martial arts appealing.

A lot of guys come from that background, he said. Its done them a lot of good.

Ive got guys who have turned it all around and started fighting and done really well for themselves, Guenther said.

Guenther reiterated the family-feel and community that exists at the gym. Members, whether training to fight or doing an Alpha Fit program support each other, and encourage each other to have healthier habits.

Sarah Dullaart, one of the youngest competitors and Alpha Fit trainers at the gym, said before coming to Valhalla she spent time with people who brought her down. She started doing community service at the gym during high school, but was soon training there and is now a manager as well. 

I came in there and started working out and being around people who were positive people and healthy people who cared about me, she said.

Dullaart said one of her reasons for staying was Evansens way of making everyone feel welcome when they came in to workout.

Everything is a challenge, Hovden said, after the presentation. Life is not an easy road. Its always hard. If you can just take that initiative and get up and do something thats healthy thats going to make your life even better the next day. Because once you start, youre not going to want to turn back.