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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!

Learn More About Pilates Mat Level Two

Pilates Mat Level Two CD Art

Pilates Mat Level Two CD Art

Jennifer Kern, certified Pilates instructor has once again done a beautiful job describing Pilates Mat Level Two. She builds more challenging core exercises onto what was learned in Level One. This is a core strengthening and mind calming workout. All you need is your mat. Everything is done there, so very little space is needed. I love this workout because your mind slows down as your muscles strengthen and lengthen.

Listen to Sample of Pilates Mat Level Two

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Fitness Descriptions Provide More Detail

These detailed fitness descriptions are in addition to our audio programs. They explain in more detail the exercise movement, as well as modification, in both audio and text format. They were created by a blind exercise advocate to make the exercises easier to understand and provide a more in depth workout experience. Below is just a sample of a few movements in this workout program. Fitness descriptions are included with every workout.

Exercise List

1 - Introduction, 2 - Seated Breath, 3 - Lateral Stretch, 4 - Spine Stretch Forward, 5 - Seated Spinal Twist, 6 - Transition from Seat to Back, 7 - Half Curl, 8 - Half Curls with Arm Floats, 9 - Mini Bridge, 10 - Full Shoulder Bridge, 11 - One Legged Shoulder Bridge, 12 - Hundreds, 13 - Roll Up, 14 - Watchdog, 15 - Advanced Knee Floats, 16 - Half Swan, 17 - Superman Variation, 18 - Side Lying Setup, 19 - Book, 20 - Clam, 21 - Side Kick, 22 - Partial Banana, 23 - Banana, 24 - Final Thoughts

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Sample Exercise Descriptions

3 - Lateral Stretch

Play Lateral Stretch MP3
Download Lateral Stretch MP3
Text Description:Stay in the same position you used for the previous exercise. Inhale while lifting your left arm up toward the ceiling. As you exhale, reach over to the right with your left arm. Feel the stretch the length of your left arm and rib cage. Keep the right sit bone digging into the mat. Inhale, and stretch even farther to the side. Exhale, and as you inhale, straighten up. Inhale, and exhale as you bring your arm back down to the left side. Repeat this stretch on the opposite side.

5 - Seated Spinal Twist

Play Seated Spinal Twist MP3
Download Seated Spinal Twist MP3
Text Description:For this exercise, we will remain in the same starting position used for the previous exercises. Inhale, and put your right hand behind you. Let your left hand rest on your right thigh. As you exhale, twist to the right. Turn your head as if looking over your right shoulder to include your neck in this gentle twist. The emphasis should not be so much on how far you can twist, but on maintaining that tall straight spine. This will strengthen and stretch the rotator muscles in the spine so important for daily movement. Inhale, and as you exhale, return to center. Then, take the twist to the opposite side.

9 - Mini Bridge

Play Mini Bridge MP3
Download Mini Bridge MP3
Text Description:We'll do the pelvic tilt, but with a lift that will engage your hamstrings and glutes. Begin in the neutral spine position, with relaxed shoulders and upper body. Your knees should not splay out to the sides, and are about three inches apart. Inhale to prepare, then exhale, pulling your abdominal muscles in toward the spine. As you begin the pelvic tilt, engage your glutes and lift your rear end up off the mat while keeping the abdominal muscles engaged. Hold the position as you inhale, and exhale as you slowly release back down to the mat with control.

 

Other Pilates Workouts

 
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