Staying fit and well in lockdown: Dan’s blog
Dan Thomas from Cardiff has some tips and tricks on staying active and well during the lockdown.
“Before the lockdown I did a lot of Brazilian Ju Jitsu, which is based on trying to grab your opponent and put each other in submission holds. Now I’ve had to completely re-adjust my exercise routine.
“It’s difficult for blind and partially sighted people especially if you’re out and about. It can be hard to know if you’re completely staying away from other people in terms of social distancing. But there are a lot of ways you can stay active at home.
“One of the things I do to keep myself active is as simple as listening to an audiobook as I walk around the house. It’s important to keep moving. I’ve got a yoga matt, a kettle bell and these are useful aides for exercise, but there’s plenty of things you can use as substitutes from around the house if you don’t have these pieces of kit.
“You could try things like just lifting heavy things, perhaps fill a rucksack with heavy books, you could make a rucksack 10 or 12 kilos in weight and do reps, lifting, doing push ups and squatting.
“A great resource for keeping fit is an app called “Blind Alive”. They have a whole selection of audio described workouts, cardio, dumbbells, yoga, and stretching - and they’re free for all to download and access onto your computer or smart device. I like to do a lot of bodyweight stuff like push ups, sit ups, planking, and these things don’t require any equipment.
“There are so many benefits to exercise. It gives you a goal. I started by doing 10 minutes on the cross trainer and then I do pull ups on my pull up bar, but now I’m doing 20 minutes of cardio and building my fitness up. It just feels good to get active. The secret to success of an exercise routine is to try and find something that you enjoy doing.
“For those of you who are feeling the strain of the lockdown, just remember that it won’t last forever. I think just to know that this will come to an end is the best comfort there is. Try to stay positive and try not to read too much of the news or social media as it’s not conducive to a healthy mind. And remember to stay active!”
