Spring into Action
Spring is in the air! Bright days and warm weather are nudging us out of hibernation and into a season of renewed activity. The increase in light helps boost our mood and motivation too! It’s time to revive those New Year’s resolutions that got buried under snow. Why not cultivate your self-renewal goals with a head-to-toe tune-up? Get ready to spring into action!
A balanced physical activity routine includes cardiovascular, strength training, and flexibility exercises. The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), recommends 150 minutes of moderate to high aerobic exercise per week for the average Canadian adult. The amount of exercise and type of activities vary on the age of the person and their ability. (Be sure to check with your healthcare professional before beginning any exercise program.) The CSEP website also provides physical activity guidelines for people with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson’s disease. You can get free downloadable info sheets on their website.
There are many sources of adapted exercises and activities. Steve Johnson, co-creator of PublicHealthLibrary.org shared a number of health-related articles with Wheelchair in Motion, including this in-depth story, How to Exercise if You Have Limited Mobility. The authors Lawrence Robinson and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. recommend several types of exercises for wheelchair users, including chair tai chi and yoga.
Did you know: Tai chi improves balance and agility, and reduces stress, anxiety, and depression in both healthy people and in those with chronic conditions? A recent report in Medical News Today outlines these benefits.
Keep your mental and spiritual self in shape too. When you exercise, your body releases endorphin, the happy hormone, that helps reduce stress and boosts your mood. In this article by Steele Roddick at ParticipACTION, the author writes about the link between physical and mental health. Your cognitive skills may also be getting a workout. A study in Canberra, Australia tested a group of adults over the age of 50 and found their cognitive abilities improved as they participated in aerobic exercise, strength training, and tai chi.
If all of this talk of exercise sounds exhausting, don’t worry. One of the many benefits of exercising is an increase in energy! So, sweep away those mental cobwebs and clear the way. It’s time to spring into action.
Wheelchair in Motion’s accessible transportation rentals are available daily, for weekends and more. With van rentals available in the Greater Toronto Area and most areas of Ontario including Ottawa, we are here to assist with your accessible transportation needs. Contact us if you have any questions about accessible transportation van rentals.
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