More than 10 million cases across the world document various ways people are suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. While there is no cure for the disease that plague people, including the late Muhammed Ali, there are ways that you can help to ease the symptoms caused by it.
Exercising regularly can help to get the body in an on state more often, increase the dopamine efficiency in the body, help onewalk and move better, improve balance, reduce rigidity, improve agility , feel better, andreduce and manage freezing episodes better. One way that people commonly seek to incorporate into their daily lives is exercising. But, how do you form solid exercise habits and develop the habit of exercising regularlywhen you’re struggling with the effects of Parkinson’s.
Below you’re going to find some ways that you can make exercise apart of your daily workout routine without missing a beat. By the time you’ve finished checking out our post, you’re going to be in the mindset to take on Parkinson’s and exercise.
Set Reminders
Even for those that don’t have Parkinson’s, remembering to exercise daily can be a challenge. This is why it’s essential to set a daily reminder or have someone close to you remind you that you’re going to be exercising today.
We recommend setting the daily reminder a few hours ahead of your scheduled workout. This is because it gives you time to mentally prepare for your workout and get ready for what’s ahead.
We find that preparing yourself mentally will help you when it comes time to work out because you knew it was coming versus jumping straight into a workout and not being prepared at all. When you’re not in the mood to workout, it can be a waste of time because no matter how hard you try, you’re not going to get the most out of the workout.
And the last thing you want to do is injure yourself because you weren’t entirely focused on what you were doing during your exercise session. Parkinson’s’ training can prove to be beneficial for those that are looking to maintain their health and quality of life.
Take It Easy
Parkinson’s’ is a disease that can cause loss of control when it comes to the movements someone makes, and it can decrease a persons’ balance. For this reason, when you’re attempting to create exercise habits, one habit that you should always have is taking it easy.
Instead of attempting to lift a weight that is heavy or do tons of reps in one set, we recommend you take it slow and easy. Most trainers will tell you that flying through reps isn’t going to do anything for your body.
It’s when you take things slow and steady that you’re getting the most out of your workout session. When you make it a habit to take your time, it gives you the control you need over your movements.
And in the event that you lose control of your movements or balance, you don’t have to worry about what to do with the large weights you were holding. If you’re starting with a low weight, continue using that weight until it becomes light as a feather.
After it’s become too light and lifting it has become a joke, you can then slowly progress to the next weight. The same goes for the amount of time that you’re working out.
Don’t attempt to workout for hours when you’re just starting out. Instead, aim to workout out consistently for 15-20 minutes a day. And over time, you can increase how long you spend working out.
Try Different Things
Exercising can become routine and boring, especially if you’re doing the same thing workout after workout. While we don’t recommend increasing weight or workout time quickly, we recommend that you try different workouts.
Different workouts will help you to focus on different groups of muscles within the body. For example, if you decided to lift weights on Monday, you should try the aquatics class offered at your local gym on Tuesday.
Not only is this a great way to exercise, but it also takes the weight off your joints and allows them to rest while you’re bouncing through the water, completing non-stressful exercises.
People with Parkinson’s benefit greatly from boxing and there are boxing classes specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s. Also, a lot of people with Parkinson’s like tai chi, yoga, and Qigong.
Going for regular walks can be fun and a great way to get extra exercise in. You can walk in your neighborhood and meet new people and get to know your neighbors. It’s an easy way to go for walks with your family as well. Also, planning outinspiring places to walk that are like a beach, hiking trail, an area with good views of the ocean, mountains, or even nice houses can make you feel good.
Pick a Time
We are all human, and with that being said, there are going to be some days where we simply aren’t in the mood to workout. And this is where setting aside a specific time to workout is going to prove useful.
According to medical and health experts, it takes an average of 66 days for something to become a habit. Most people will tell you that it only takes 21 days for something to become a habit, but this has been debunked.
By setting a time everyday to workout, you will find that instead of waiting for that time to roll around eventually, you’ll begin to look forward to the time that you get to workout. Planning out your workout times a week in advance can be very helpful. Looking at your schedule and identifying times the best times throughout the week to workout will set you up for success. When you begin to look forward to working out is when you know that you’ve reached the stage where it’s not just something you’re doing, but it’s become a new healthy habit.
Ensure that in the beginning, you’re using your reminders that we mentioned earlier to help you get to your workouts on time. You’ve got to be diligent in your workouts every day or every other day.
Establishing Fantastic Exercise Habits
When establishing exercise habits, all the factors mentioned above are going to help you achieve this. We recommend that you take the time to set aside a specific time to workout and use the reminders that you’ve set for yourself to remind you of the workout that is approaching.
If you’re someone that struggles with the motivation to workout every day, contact Training For All Ages. Our trainers know what it takes to get you up and moving no matter what age you are.
And let’s face it, we all could use an extra push every now and then.