"Exercise" for health
April 27, 2020 1:36 PM Subscribe
My mother (65) lives in a place with a very strict shelter in place, and for many reasons (poor health, asthma), she is scared to get outside even for small walks in her neighborhood.
What can she do in her smaller apartment to help keep her body moving?
She is not getting ANY exercise right now and has suffered from pretty debilitating asthma her whole life (so no suggestions for HIIT or any heavy cardio exercises). I want her to be able to move her body, whether its gentle stretching, very very basic beginner (chair?) yoga, or other things that I am not thinking of. Any suggestions for youtube videos or gentle routines she can do to just keep moving a little bit?
She is not getting ANY exercise right now and has suffered from pretty debilitating asthma her whole life (so no suggestions for HIIT or any heavy cardio exercises). I want her to be able to move her body, whether its gentle stretching, very very basic beginner (chair?) yoga, or other things that I am not thinking of. Any suggestions for youtube videos or gentle routines she can do to just keep moving a little bit?
I remember seeing Sit and Be Fit on PBS and it looks like they have a youtube channel with exercise videos.
posted by esoterrica at 1:51 PM on April 27, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by esoterrica at 1:51 PM on April 27, 2020 [4 favorites]
I do the walk/jog at home in our small house. I don't always like trying to follow steps, so I just made a playlist of songs that are fast enough to get my heart rate up, if that's easier for her than following an instructor.
posted by korej at 1:52 PM on April 27, 2020
posted by korej at 1:52 PM on April 27, 2020
I know someone whose mother improved her health and mobility a great deal by walking around her dining room table. I'm currently doing 6000 steps a day making a circuit around my living room while listening to podcasts. Would just walking around her apartment work for her at all?
I've also been doing some videos that are ballet for people over 50 - these are pretty gentle. The one I've done has a few steps that involve a bit of hopping - but they say you don't have to do that. The videos were started by a woman who was trying to help her mother with balance and mobility. Both the woman and her mother appear in the videos, which is nice. It's called Ballet Based Movement.
posted by FencingGal at 1:53 PM on April 27, 2020 [4 favorites]
I've also been doing some videos that are ballet for people over 50 - these are pretty gentle. The one I've done has a few steps that involve a bit of hopping - but they say you don't have to do that. The videos were started by a woman who was trying to help her mother with balance and mobility. Both the woman and her mother appear in the videos, which is nice. It's called Ballet Based Movement.
posted by FencingGal at 1:53 PM on April 27, 2020 [4 favorites]
Search for "chair yoga" on YouTube. My 78-year-old mother is on lockdown in a retirement community and has been doing chair yoga daily, and reports to me that she enjoys it.
posted by telophase at 2:09 PM on April 27, 2020
posted by telophase at 2:09 PM on April 27, 2020
Does your mom like games/competition (even if it’s beating your own time etc)? My mom does and she loves Wii Fit U.
Also is your mom’s asthma being treated well? Maybe a puffer 20 mins before exercising would help, if even very moderate cardio gets tough?
posted by cotton dress sock at 2:38 PM on April 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Also is your mom’s asthma being treated well? Maybe a puffer 20 mins before exercising would help, if even very moderate cardio gets tough?
posted by cotton dress sock at 2:38 PM on April 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
I just put this list of videos together for my mom, who's 70 and has mild asthma and arthritis.
8 brocades qigong practice
5 element qigong practice
(The instructor, Mimi Kuo-Deemer, has a number of other 15-minute qigong routines along the same lines)
Fitness with Cindy has all kinds of exercise videos specifically geared toward seniors; some might be too much but I pulled out these four that look fairly gentle:
6-minute beginner tai chi
15-minute stretch routine
15-minute seated yoga
Low-impact cardio (20 mins)
posted by sunset in snow country at 2:48 PM on April 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
8 brocades qigong practice
5 element qigong practice
(The instructor, Mimi Kuo-Deemer, has a number of other 15-minute qigong routines along the same lines)
Fitness with Cindy has all kinds of exercise videos specifically geared toward seniors; some might be too much but I pulled out these four that look fairly gentle:
6-minute beginner tai chi
15-minute stretch routine
15-minute seated yoga
Low-impact cardio (20 mins)
posted by sunset in snow country at 2:48 PM on April 27, 2020 [2 favorites]
I have been really liking the qi gong videos from Jeffrey Chand (he has a bunch on YouTube, there is also a subscription option with more.)
The shorter routines have something like 4-6 movements, he explains them well, and a number of them (though not all) are shot in really gorgeous outdoor environments, which is extra nice.
posted by jenettsilver at 3:52 PM on April 27, 2020
The shorter routines have something like 4-6 movements, he explains them well, and a number of them (though not all) are shot in really gorgeous outdoor environments, which is extra nice.
posted by jenettsilver at 3:52 PM on April 27, 2020
What about the Richard Simons videos? There are some on you tube
posted by raccoon409 at 4:55 PM on April 27, 2020
posted by raccoon409 at 4:55 PM on April 27, 2020
I've been loving the HASFit workouts. They really do have something for all fitness levels. The videos are not too long and most of them don't require any equipment. Also the main coach has an assistant who does modified moves along with the regular moves so you can always find the right level for you, and you can switch between regular and modified moves during the workout. I injured my shoulder last week and I've been doing their shoulder stretching routine every night and it's really helped it heal.
posted by selfmedicating at 5:51 PM on April 27, 2020
posted by selfmedicating at 5:51 PM on April 27, 2020
My mum got a Cubii and is enjoying it. It barely qualifies as exercise but it keeps her legs moving while she's watching TV and she says her knees feel better.
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:45 PM on April 27, 2020
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:45 PM on April 27, 2020
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posted by loveandhappiness at 1:50 PM on April 27, 2020 [16 favorites]