By Sarah Hocking
Thinking about starting a fitness routine, but don’t know where to start? Here are a few tips to help you get off the couch, get some air into your lungs and give you a buzz of endorphins.
After losing my vision suddenly it was relatively easy for me to get back into exercise. I had worked as a personal trainer and exercise therapist so I had the skills and knowledge to get back to where I was. I just had to make some adjustments with my occupational therapist to cater for my needs.
Here are my top five tips for kick starting your exercise routine.
Make it fun
The most important thing is to do something that you enjoy, otherwise your new fitness routine will go out the window quick smart! There is no point running on a treadmill if you hate it. If you don’t like running, it might be martial arts, swimming or even walking with a friend. It might take a few tries at different things to find your fun, but it will be worth it.
Find a friend
Some people prefer to work out on their own, but if you are anything like me I love to work out with others. It gives you social interaction, makes you feel part of a community and gives a sense of belonging. Try an exercise class with a friend to meet more people or set up regular exercise sessions with a friends a couple of times a week.
Seek out professional help
If you are new to exercise, lack confidence with your vision or need extra assistance or motivation, I highly recommend hiring a personal trainer or gym instructor to design a specialised program for your level and fitness. That way you can be supervised and learn the correct techniques to carry out exercises safely.
Check out what is going on in the community
Is there a fun run you might want to train for? An obstacle course or race? Sometimes having an event to train for can keep you motivated and give you something to work towards. You can also subscribe to your local Vision Australia’s recreational newsletter to check out different activities and groups. You could also contact Blind Sports Australia to see if there's anything in your area.
Make exercise a habit
Start off with just 10 minutes of exercise a day and increase from there. If you are time poor, schedule it into your day where it fits in best. For me I have a half hour minimum rule every day. I include things that are incidental such as running races on the lawn or jumping on the trampoline with my kids. If you are consistent and include exercise as a part of your daily routine, you will see the benefits to your physical and mental health quite quickly.
With the right support and guidance from professionals and within the local community, many barriers to exercise as a blind or low vision person can be broken. Before you start an exercise program, it is important to consult your doctor and eye specialist as some conditions can be affected by some exercises. This is also important if you have other medical conditions either related to or not to your vision impairment.
You can read more from Sarah Hocking on her blog Blind Intuition