BlindAlive.com

Accessible Fitness, more choices for more people

Fitness has always been a concern with regard to both mental and physical health regardless of age, gender, or any other variables that make each one of us unique. And for those in the blind community, fitness is every bit as much—if not more—important.

Exercise for the visually impaired is something that should be incorporated into a weekly, if not daily, routine for a variety of reasons that are both similar and different from people within the sighted community. For those with total loss of sight as well as for those who are low sighted, a lack of regular exercise can bring on a host of other issues, including weight gain, sluggishness, and perhaps worst of all for many, insomnia or a circadian rhythm that has been thrown completely off track.

A quality workout done at the right time of day and at the right pace to meet your unique physical and mental needs is just what the doctor may have forgotten to order. For many blind people, fitness has been a challenge: without someone to guide you and without the ability to drive yourself to the gym, it becomes obvious why so many visually impaired individuals give up—but with the BlindAlive line of Fitness Workouts for blind people, you’ll never have to depend on anyone else again.

Yoga and Strength Training with wieghts for blind people along with a variety of other cardiovascular exercises help our bodies stay toned, help us gain muscle mass and lose weight, but most of all, can help lead a blind person away from a sense of helplessness.

Are you ready to sweat? Come get healthy and leave all your notions of not being able to get fit due to your visual impairment behind with BlindAlive!

Does Your Back Hurt When You Travel?

June 11, 2017  /  Mel Scott

Even if you do not generally have back pain, chances are good that you have experienced it when traveling. We sit for long stretches of time in seats that are not designed for the human body. Airplanes are the worst, but trains, busses, and cars can create an aching back too.

Here are some tips to help combat the soreness:

  1. Drink water: Staying hydrated may be the most important prevention for back pain. I know that bathrooms on planes, trains, and busses are not particularly pleasant, but it is better to drink water and deal with the facilities. When you are dehydrated, your body pulls water from muscle tissue and the digestive system so it can keep your blood flowing and your brain functioning. Dry muscles are more likely to ache. You can help yourself by drinking more than you really want to make sure you are well-hydrated.
  2. Get creative with the pillows and blankets provided: Often seats force you into an unnatural back curve. On a long trip, this can become most uncomfortable. Use the little pillow behind your back, and change its position several times during the trip. You can also fold the blanket behind your back. I use both. Sometimes the seat hits the back of your head in exactly the wrong spot. You can sit on the blanket to lift you up a little. Think about what you have on hand and experiment to make yourself comfortable. You may also want to carry a cushion or neck pillow with you.
  3. Move: Sitting still in a crunched posture for hours is tough on your vascular system. Bodies need movement to help blood and other fluids to flow back to the heart. Feet and ankles can swell because there is not enough muscle contractions to help them flow up hill.. Your low back can suffer from this congestion too.

    Try these movements while sitting.
    - Point and flex your feet.
    - Tighten and release all of your leg muscles.
    - Contract your butt or gluteal muscles several times an hour. You can do this all over your entire body, and nobody will know.
  4. Stretch: As soon as you can, stretch out all the kinks. You have been curled up in a forward folded position so do the opposite. Press your hips forward to stretch out the hip flexors. These are the muscles right at the top of your thighs, the ones that connect your trunk with your legs. Also, make sure to arch your upper back by pressing your chest out. By all means, breathe deeply.

There is no need to be miserable when traveling. If you take care of yourself before, during, and after, your trip will be much better.

You can learn how to stretch your entire body in our Whole Body Stretch. Once you know them, you can take them with you. You will have much more fun on both short and long trips if your body feels strong and relaxed.

Good health to you and happy travels,
Mel

 

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