After years in banking and tech, Mziya Weber realized she wasn’t enriching lives in the way she deeply desired. It was her husband who encouraged her to follow her serving heart and love of nonprofit volunteerism.
Having been born with one arm, Weber faced a lot of turbulence with society believing that she couldn’t do things. But as someone who is always up for a challenge, she found a passion in working out. Not only did it keep her body healthy, but it showed her just how many times she could say, “I can do this.”
“Fitness was my niche, something that I admired,” says Weber. “I didn’t want to train only able-bodied people; I wanted to change the model in the fitness world.”
This led to the founding of REIZ Adaptive Fitness (Resilience, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Z for her nickname), a nonprofit redefining adaptive athletics. Weber was so dedicated to this mission that she even sold her car to get her dream off the ground.
Over the past year, REIZ has seen clients make significant strides in their fitness journeys. Weber has worked with clients like a visually impaired boy who has grown tremendous confidence in the gym, a partial paraplegic woman who regained the ability to lift her legs, and a stroke survivor learning to walk again. One veteran client was so motivated by his transformation from consistent training that he opened his own gym.
For anyone interested in experiencing workout sessions tailored to their unique abilities, it all starts with a consultation.
“I focus on educating myself, so I do a lot of research based on the client’s needs. We look at your limitation and see how we can push beyond those boundaries, because training really can do so much,” says Weber. “I tend to focus on functional training—lots of core workouts, muscle building, back workouts—that are low-impact so no one gets injured.”
Weber’s efforts have extended to creating inclusive programs for military children at Fort Cavazos, volunteering with life-changing groups like Adaptive Training Foundation, and partnering with local nonprofits such as Heroes Night Out and Disability Rights Texas. As a Team Survivor board member, she also empowers women battling or having survived cancer to thrive through free fitness programs.
“It’s about being an advocate, talking about your story, and hoping that you’re going to inspire others. My clients are incredibly inspirational to me,” says Weber. “Not many people get to fulfill their dreams, so I’m grateful every day. If I have an opportunity to change someone’s life, I’m going to try to do it.”
Support REIZ Adaptive Fitness to help make fitness more accessible and inclusive. If you have rentable gym space, know someone who could benefit, or want to donate, visit: reizadaptivefitness.com