Local parkour coach champions inclusiveness

For Cora Wright, owner of Pegasus Movement Academy (PMA), parkour is more than a sport. It’s a way of life, and a powerful tool that helps her students build confidence and a sense of community.

Wright has been teaching parkour, along with artistic gymnastics, trampoline, and tumbling for 30 years. Recently, her capabilities as a parkour instructor, particularly for neurodivergent youth, have helped her gain notoriety. In fact, the Greater Napanee native was invited to speak at the Inclusive and Adaptive Gymnastics Conference of the Year hosted by Suncoast Gymnastics Academy in Odessa, Florida. 

Although Wright will not be venturing forth south of the border, she will participate in the conference virtually on March 21.

With news of the conference, Wright took some time to speak with the Beaver about her love of parkour and the myriad benefits of this lesser-known sport.

“Parkours meets you where you are, and helps you grow as you’re ready,” said Wright. “Anyone, even seniors or those with disabilities, can participate to their full ability.”

When it comes to neurodivergent people, Wright notes parkour can be particularly beneficial and inclusive.

“It’s a sensory experience, and a lot of neurodivergent people need that sensory input and output,” Wright said. 

The movements of parkour, Wright added, “help children connect with their body more so, if they’re trapped in their head, parkour allows them to move as they want to.”

Parkour is also less about perfection, unlike its sister sport, gymnastics. 

“I love gymnastics, but to master a cartwheel, you have to start and end with a lunge, and in the middle perform a perfect split,” explained Wright. “In parkour, a cartwheel is a safety skill you’d perform if falling or coming out of a movement too forcefully.”

Wright is careful to point out that, while parkour is beneficial for neurodivergent youth, it is also a relief for many parents who can be certain their children can move and stim in a safe environment.

Although parkour has noteworthy benefits for many, Wright emphasized it can also be particularly helpful for those with mental health issues, such as anxiety.

“One of our parkour students who suffers from anxiety made the top 10 in the Sports Illustrated Youth Athlete of 2025,” said Wright. “Teachers, parents, and peers were all amazed at how much her confidence, problem-solving skills, and more have developed and grown since starting parkour.”

For anyone facing financial difficulty, Wright hopes to make parkour even more accessible by offering full and partial scholarships so everyone can attend.

“I believe everyone should be allowed to participate if they want to,” Wright said. “It’s a passion of mine.”

For more information about PMA, please visit https://pegasusmovementacademy.my.canva.site/.