Exercise & Stretches For Caregivers
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Your Body Matters! Stretches |
Your body matters!
YOGA (see "Relaxation for Caregivers also)
Yoga is great for stress management and combines physical exertion with relaxation. This video is a great introduction to the basic positions and clearly shows both new beginner and advanced beginner techniques. There are several other videos from YogaToday that you can access at the end of this one for people who want a new or greater challenge.
(*Disclaimer: We are not in any way affiliated with YogaToday or their advertisers, nor are we promoting any philosophy related to yoga. We just like the video! Enjoy!! Please notice the health and safety information at the beginning of the video. TCC asks you to talk with your doctor before starting any exercise or fitness program. We are not responsible for the content of the video, the views that may be expressed in it, or how you choose to use it. )
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A Commitment To Self-Care - My Story Exercise is one of the most important, beneficial and all-around good things you can do for your body and your life. It is also one of the most difficult to get moving with, it seems! A few years ago I managed to do the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Charlotte, NC. I trained, ended up seeing a physical therapist as I was in need of inserts for my arch (couldn't go more than 9 miles due to the pain), and trained some more, and I did it! The whole marathon and a half, every step of the way. There was a sense of pride for this, as I did it for my 40th birthday, and to put my own cancer experience (Hodgkin's Disease at age 22) fully and completely behind me. Then, due to the recovery time involved after that massive effort, I got out of the habit of exercising and didn't get back into it. Period. I tried a few things to motivate myself, but they didn't work as crises in my life (things seem to come in threes, don't they?) knocked me into survival mode. I realized I'd let weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle get the best of me! I finally decided to "wake up." I was ready, and because I am doing this website and being asked to do some speaking engagements, etc., I knew it was time to really walk my talk. So I recently made a commitment to put exercise into my life every day, based on a lot of self-knowledge as to what works and doesn't work for me. Every day sounds like a lot! (I also committed to a healthier diet, removing foods that I react badly to and am staying the course with nutrition as well.) So what am I doing to keep this commitment? For me, variety and flexibility of schedule is the key with my crazy life! (How to put yourself back into your life? Nurture Your Life!) I don't go to a gym - both for reasons of time and money. Instead, I work out at home or on my own, or with a friend if we can schedule it. I am learning to do yoga, which is quite an adventure (never knew I was this stiff!). I have some hand-held weights and a few routines I've collected from books and magazines that I can do when I want to. I enjoy walking, and my youngest son can come with me if it's not too strenuous or far. I do floor exercises from various schools of thought with a focus on working my "core." Before my head hits the pillow (and sometimes that is very late at night), I go and do a reasonable exercise routine of my choosing. I have been very successful at doing this, because 1) the demand is coming from inside myself, 2) the rewards of doing the exercise are obvious, and 3) I'm allowing it to be fun by choosing things I enjoy. As to my weight issues - well, I'm on it but I'm not applying pressure or any form of guilt to myself. Keeping it positive allows me to be in control of my choices and not get caught up in the whole unreasonable goals/failure/guilt/rebellion thing that has ruled me in the past. I can get beyond the negative stuff because I'm aware of it, and I'm being kind to myself, patient, forgiving and reasonable. It took a LONG time to get here and it won't be solved in a week, or a month, but a year? Or two? Now that's reasonable! :-) I encourage you to look deeply and get to know yourself - what kind of exercise is or could be enjoyable? What rewards can you give yourself for being motivated for just a day? I put up my commitment to exercise on Facebook to my friends and received such caring support and inspiration - that was a reward in and of itself! Find your own support in friends and/or family who care for you, will cheer you on, and celebrate your efforts. Stay away from nay-sayers and negative thinking patterns. Give yourself a gift: get moving! Enjoy life! - Lynn
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We also recommend the Physical Activity information pages on the MyPyramid.gov site.
For your children: check out the Let's Move site.
