Local businessman extends fitness program to Homme youth

Steve Slama helps boys learn discipline and teamwork
By: 
miriam Nelson
News Editor

WITTENBERG — Four months ago Steve Slama, owner of Tenth Legion Fitness in Wittenberg, started a workout program for the boys at Homme Youth and Family Programs.
Homme Youth and Family Programs is a residential treatment facility for boys who are court appointed to be there. The facility, which started as an orphanage in 1881, currently runs a therapy program for juvenile sex offenders and victims.

Slama started his fitness training center a couple of years ago and focuses on crossfit training which features a variety of techniques including lifting weights, special exercises and includes positive goal setting and meeting nutritional needs for a healthy lifestyle.
Slama has a lot of life experience which the boys can relate to, and feels he’s been able to instill a sense of self-esteem in them as they accomplish individual goals and work on team building exercises.

As a crossfit trainer he works with the boys teaching a variety of exercises. He works with about 30 residents at any given time and encourages staff to get involved when they aren’t on duty.

Pam Cotton, the director at Homme, has participated when her schedule allows.

“What I love about Pam is the kids respect her because she gets involved with them,” said Slama.

Cotton is impressed with the results of this program, noting that many of the boys are doing better in school, have a sense of accomplishment and a boost in self-esteem. A few boys who have never been active in recreation are taking advantage of this opportunity.

“A program such as Steve’s allows our boys an opportunity to find the means they need to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Cotton. “It’s another tool they can take with them when they leave.”

She said that many of the activities at Homme do include physical activity but Slama offers another that they would probably not find if they were not placed with Homme. Crossfit is a challenge to the boys because it’s a workout that’s unfamiliar to them — they are learning proper form and exercises they haven’t done before.

“Steve is really supportive and encouraging of the boys doing what they can, even if it’s just a little to start,” said Cotton. “He is very good at reading their body language and reaching out to the young men who need a bit more encouragement.”

Slama also includes military type training exercises such as carrying ruck sacks on hikes and doing cadences where the leader sings and the troops repeat while marching. The point is to get them involved in working together as a team and learning to trust and depend on others.
He understands this is a problem for many of them because it does require that they are a bit vulnerable in the learning process. He reminds them that they are all at Homme because of their similar behavior issues and situational circumstances and helps reinforce the goal of working together. Slama and the staff recognize the boys also learn compassion for others through this shared experience.

“When everyone is working toward a common goal, if one is suffering the others try to help,” said Slama. “In order to get to the goal, you have to share the suffering.”

Slama acknowledges that when you only know a world full of trauma you think that’s normal and that sometimes you need to show them what real love and caring is all about.

It’s not all exercises and drills. Slama takes the time to engage the boys in conversations. He recently asked the group what was their definition of an “alpha” personality.

Given the traumatic background many of the boys have come from, he was expecting answers like brute strength and domination. He said he was impressed to learn the qualities the boys associated with the alpha personality included “compassion, a leader in the community, someone who loves others and wants the best for them, and someone strong enough to take the hits for other people.”

Slama has noticed a difference in one boy who has been participating in the program, saying, “He’s a good leader, quiet, mild mannered and really wants to make something of himself.”

Another boy at Homme has some physical challenges. According to Cotton, his mother had never encouraged him to participate in sports.

“He’s embraced this opportunity whole-heartedly and plays football, basketball, lifts weights and works on mobility with Steve, which requires some patience and a bit of pain with stretching,” said Cotton.

Slama feels this program has been a great opportunity for him to put his skills as a trainer, a listener and a motivator to good use and that hopefully it makes a difference in the lives of the residents and staff at Homme.