Former drug dealer now helps youth with free exercise classes

Jaquan Adams, 28, says he doesn’t charge most of his clients, who are middle school and high school-aged children, because he doesn’t want anything to stand between them and a positive role model

Updated: 3:20 PM CDT Jun 23, 2017

Former drug dealer now helps youth with free exercise classes

Jaquan Adams, 28, says he doesn’t charge most of his clients, who are middle school and high school-aged children, because he doesn’t want anything to stand between them and a positive role model

Updated: 3:20 PM CDT Jun 23, 2017

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Jaquan Adams is trying to give back to the community he says he wronged.The 28-year-old West Side native has dedicated his free time to mentoring youth in his neighborhood with a free exercise class at Lione Park after serving nearly four years in prison.It’s his self-assigned penance for the years he spent selling drugs to his neighbors, a practice he says “destroyed good families.”“When I was incarcerated, it gave me a lot of time to sit back and think, and I figured it’s time for me to start giving back,” Adams said, proudly wearing his Ryda Fitness shirt before one of his bi-weekly classes at Lione Park. “Adversity builds character. It made me a better person today.”He’s thankful now for the time he spent in prison. Adams said while he was keeping his friends and neighbors hooked on his products, he was dealing with an addiction of his own.“I was addicted to the money,” he said. “I know I hurt a lot of families with that. I took away a lot from a lot of people. It’s time to give back.”Adams recalled his youth on the West Side, and the tough times his family faced financially. He looked for any way to help put food on the table.“When I was younger, the guys I looked up to were drug dealers. That’s all I knew,” he said. “There was no food, we were struggling and I looked to the next best thing. I was a product of my environment.”Nine months into his prison sentence, Adams said something clicked and he was overcome with remorse for his actions and how they affected the people he loved at home. He began writing letters and making phone calls to the families he sold drugs, apologizing and promising to make amends.“It really hit me,” he said. “I started to realize what I had done.”As Adams reminisced about these tough times, children explored the obstacle course he set up in preparation for his clients. He remembered what Lione Park and his mother’s apartment looked like just a few years ago and said he was grateful for the improvements that have been made.”The kids, they love this, even if they’re not in the class," he said. “I let them play with the ropes and run through the cones. It’s good for them to have something nice.”Adams quickly obtained his personal trainer certification after being released from prison last year. The Westhill High School graduate and former running back on the school’s football team said he spent a lot of time learning about health and fitness while he was incarcerated and wanted to turn his interest into a career.His Ryda Fitness classes are offered mostly for free — he charges for adult classes and personal training services. But he says he doesn’t charge most of his clients, who are middle school and high school-aged children, because he doesn’t want anything to stand between them and a positive role model.“A lot of these kids, they don’t have any guidance,” he said. “I’m just trying to show them that there are a lot better things for them out there. I want them to see there’s a way out of here.”Born and raised on the West Side, Adams decided not to return to the neighborhood when he was released from prison and instead lives with an aunt in North Stamford.“When it comes to the transition, you have to have your mind right,” he said. “It’s easy to fall back to what I used to do ... I don’t think I need to come back here. I wouldn’t go back to the way I was if it was the last thing, don’t get me wrong, but I just need to be past this place.”That doesn’t mean he’s spending any less time on the West Side, though.“I feel like I can help everyone out here,” he said, gesturing to the evening crowd at Lione Park. “I’m here to change lives through fitness and lift people’s self esteem.”Adams, who has a day job at Trader Joe’s and is helping his friend launch a juice stand at Cove Beach, has big plans for his fitness business, but said he’s not in a rush to expand just yet.“I would love to grow this outside of Stamford, get a gym,” he said. “But a lot of kids are looking up to me right now. That’s what I’m thinking about. They know me, they know my parents. When they see me doing good, they’re going to follow.”Ryda Fitness takes over Lione Park on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. For more more information, follow Ryda on Instagram @rydafitness.nnaughton@stamfordadvocate.com; @noranaughton

STAMFORD, Conn. —

Jaquan Adams is trying to give back to the community he says he wronged.

The 28-year-old West Side native has dedicated his free time to mentoring youth in his neighborhood with a free exercise class at Lione Park after serving nearly four years in prison.

It’s his self-assigned penance for the years he spent selling drugs to his neighbors, a practice he says “destroyed good families.”

“When I was incarcerated, it gave me a lot of time to sit back and think, and I figured it’s time for me to start giving back,” Adams said, proudly wearing his Ryda Fitness shirt before one of his bi-weekly classes at Lione Park. “Adversity builds character. It made me a better person today.”

He’s thankful now for the time he spent in prison. Adams said while he was keeping his friends and neighbors hooked on his products, he was dealing with an addiction of his own.

“I was addicted to the money,” he said. “I know I hurt a lot of families with that. I took away a lot from a lot of people. It’s time to give back.”

Adams recalled his youth on the West Side, and the tough times his family faced financially. He looked for any way to help put food on the table.

“When I was younger, the guys I looked up to were drug dealers. That’s all I knew,” he said. “There was no food, we were struggling and I looked to the next best thing. I was a product of my environment.”

Nine months into his prison sentence, Adams said something clicked and he was overcome with remorse for his actions and how they affected the people he loved at home. He began writing letters and making phone calls to the families he sold drugs, apologizing and promising to make amends.

“It really hit me,” he said. “I started to realize what I had done.”

As Adams reminisced about these tough times, children explored the obstacle course he set up in preparation for his clients. He remembered what Lione Park and his mother’s apartment looked like just a few years ago and said he was grateful for the improvements that have been made.

”The kids, they love this, even if they’re not in the class," he said. “I let them play with the ropes and run through the cones. It’s good for them to have something nice.”

Adams quickly obtained his personal trainer certification after being released from prison last year. The Westhill High School graduate and former running back on the school’s football team said he spent a lot of time learning about health and fitness while he was incarcerated and wanted to turn his interest into a career.

His Ryda Fitness classes are offered mostly for free — he charges for adult classes and personal training services. But he says he doesn’t charge most of his clients, who are middle school and high school-aged children, because he doesn’t want anything to stand between them and a positive role model.

“A lot of these kids, they don’t have any guidance,” he said. “I’m just trying to show them that there are a lot better things for them out there. I want them to see there’s a way out of here.”

Born and raised on the West Side, Adams decided not to return to the neighborhood when he was released from prison and instead lives with an aunt in North Stamford.

“When it comes to the transition, you have to have your mind right,” he said. “It’s easy to fall back to what I used to do ... I don’t think I need to come back here. I wouldn’t go back to the way I was if it was the last thing, don’t get me wrong, but I just need to be past this place.”

That doesn’t mean he’s spending any less time on the West Side, though.

“I feel like I can help everyone out here,” he said, gesturing to the evening crowd at Lione Park. “I’m here to change lives through fitness and lift people’s self esteem.”

Adams, who has a day job at Trader Joe’s and is helping his friend launch a juice stand at Cove Beach, has big plans for his fitness business, but said he’s not in a rush to expand just yet.

“I would love to grow this outside of Stamford, get a gym,” he said. “But a lot of kids are looking up to me right now. That’s what I’m thinking about. They know me, they know my parents. When they see me doing good, they’re going to follow.”

Ryda Fitness takes over Lione Park on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. For more more information, follow Ryda on Instagram @rydafitness.

nnaughton@stamfordadvocate.com; @noranaughton

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