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!

Exercise Routines Safe For Seniors

April 22, 2018  /  Mel Scott

I had the privilege of speaking to the AER Division on Aging about Eyes-Free Fitness® programs and how they can be incorporated into the lives of senior citizens with vision impairments.

The question I get most often is “Which of the Eyes-Free Fitness® programs are safe for seniors at home and in various group settings?” I think the answer might help you choose a program for yourself or a family member.

While some seniors remain vigorous and active, the loss of sight or other medical factors may cause many to adopt a sedentary lifestyle. The workouts mentioned here will help these individuals gain renewed strength and confidence.

Exercise is essential for everyone, no matter what his or her age in order to maintain optimum health for many decades. For older individuals who may be new to vision loss, exercising may seem impossible. The barriers may feel insurmountable. I assure you they are not. With some support and understanding, older people with vision loss can learn these routines and can gain strength and confidence as a result.

First let’s talk about the most important component to maintaining an active lifestyle. We need to prevent falls, so incorporating balance and strengthening exercises is essential. Our Balance Series does this gently and safely.

It consists of three programs which build on each other. Strengthen for balance comes first. It is designed to strengthen the lower body and grow awareness of proper posture. Then comes Flirting with balance which uses stillness and smaller movements to increase proprioception. A supportive surface such as a sturdy piece of furniture or counter is needed for this one. Last is Balanced movement. These exercises are more dynamic. The person moves across a larger space in order to gain confidence and muscle memory. All of the programs can be learned and then done throughout the day. These moves can be performed at home or in a group setting.

Another helpful program we offer is the Whole Body Stretch. Flexibility and blood flow to muscles and joints will help prevent injury and pain. These stretches are performed in a chair and either the floor or a bed. Once they are learned, they can also be performed while listening to music, the radio, TV, or while waiting for food to cook.

Another helpful option is Pilates Chair With Ring. This routine is a full body workout done in a chair. The Pilates Ring is a versatile resistance tool. It is used in place of weights or resistance bands. This workout is gentle or challenging according to how strongly you press the ring.

The Gentle Workout Set is next on the menu. It is a set of four 20-minute workouts which can be done standing or in a chair. The set includes Cardio, Upper Body and Core, Lower Body and Balance, and Light Warm up and Stretch. This grouping is perfect for anyone wanting to get back into living a more active life. The starting point can be in a chair and you can graduate to standing and using weights over time.

Chair Yoga is the last of our chair based programs. This one is delightful. It is strengthening, stretching, relaxing. There is also a balance component at the end. This one is truly a favorite.

There are many other programs that will be safe for people who can get up and down from the floor. All of them can be found at our website and on the Eyes-Free Fitness® app for iOS.

I hope this information will help you move past your own barriers or help you encourage someone important to you to be more active. Of course, if we may provide additional help or information, you are always welcome to contact us.

 

BlindAlive - Creator of Eyes-Free Fitness® - Doylestown, PA 18901

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