Handicapped aikido(ist)? Can a handicapped person learn aikido?
I have a little sister and she had a handicap, she can't walk too well and she's kind of slow. But she's not sitting in the wheelchair or else, just her balance isn't very good, she easily falls and often being clumsy. Still, when she heard that I tried martial arts she said to me she want to try aikido. I told her I'm not suggesting judo/karate because it seems too difficult for her her. Then I heard from my friend that aikido doesn't need heavy exercise like lap running, push up/sit up, squat jump or anything and it's pretty easy. Is it true? Do you think my sister can do aikido training with her handicap? Is it possible for her? As a sister I'm worried about her. Please give me your opinion.
How to start exercise when you are very out of shape?
OK, trying to start by jumping rope is pretty much setting yourself up to fail. That's very high-intensity exercise, and even many people in fairly good shape can't do it for long. Endurance is something you build up over time. Start with walking. If all you can do is 15 minutes at a brisk pace, then fine, do 15 minutes daily and build up to longer distances. If you currently drive from place to place, switch to walking wherever possible. When you can comfortably do 30 minutes at a brisk pace, try jogging a little, or add hand weights. Every day you do this, your overall fitness level will increase, and eventually, you'll be able to jog, run, whatever. If you can't afford the gym, find out if there's a local community centre or school that offers any low-cost fitness activities. Keep eating healthy, and good luck.
How to motivate yourself to exercise when you don’t feel like it?
We all know how good it feels… when you lay down on the sofa watching TV while some butter-flavored popcorn is getting ready in the microwave… that’s pure laziness and we love it! Truth is that committing yourself to exercise is not such an easy task, so we need your tips and tricks: http://yahooanswers.tumblr.com/post/1275...
Is it ever okay to park in a disabled parking if you are not legally disabled (permanent/temporary)?
Disabled people need exercise, too! Maybe your gym isn’t particularly accessible and doesn’t attract a lot of disabled clients, but at least they’ve got the required handicap spots outside. But, yes, even at a gym, handicap spots are needed—depending on the disability, they might be able to use the gym just like you do, or they might be able to use some of the equipment; or they might be going there with somebody else, like their disabled family member. If there’s a pool at your gym, practically all disabled people will be able to use that. Pools are nice that way. So your friend’s assumption, that a gym doesn’t need handicap spots, is actually false. I know there’s a lack of accessible exercise equipment and programs available, but that doesn’t mean they have to make it worse by making it impossible to even park at a gym.As for whether it’s ever okay to park in a disabled spot: Legally, no, you can always get fined. Ethically, it can be harmless (you’re pulling into one of four empty handicap spots for ten seconds to drop somebody off), or it can be completely understandable (you’re parking in a handicap spot because you’re in labor and you need to get to the hospital and you really don’t want to walk all the way), or it can actually be wrong not to, in extreme cases (Oh my gosh that house is on fire and that child is going to jump from the second story I had better park here and get out in time to catch them).There’s a reason I had to make up such a silly example for that last case, though. There really are very few justifications for such an action. Unless whatever you’re avoiding by parking in that spot is worse than the possibility that you might deny that spot to someone with a disability who won’t be able to get to the building without it, parking in a handicap spot without a permit is not ethical or legal.Anyhow, it’s a gym; just consider it part of your warm-up.
Why don't people exercise regularly when it is known to improve health, lifespan, and quality of life?
One reason is that many people don’t think about how to make their exercise enjoyable, so that they are drawn to doing it rather than having to push themselves. If doing the exercise is more fun than not doing it, then motivation problems diminish.Another problem is that people choose exercises that require effort even to begin the exercise: they must go to a gym or a pool or a track, or they must find other people because it’s not an exercise they can do alone (e.g., tennis).Nordic walking is the exercise I settled on, and the reasons I chose it and some basic reference information are listed in the post at the link. And it is an excellent cardio exercise: “Aerobics” revisited and my current Aerobics score.
Activity/field trip ideas for developmentally disabled individuals?
I'm interning as staff for an agency which provides services for individuals who are developmentally/mentally challenged. My job is to plan and engage in activities, focusing mostly on providing opportunities to get them out into the community. I work with 4 individuals, 3 of which use wheelchairs. *One has cerebral palsy and is very social with high cognitive function, (operating at about the age of 13 if I had to guess) but has very limited motor skills. This person loves doing things and is the easiest to plan things for. *Another individual has high cognitive functioning, with mild MR and uses an electric wheelchair which she powers on her own. However, she spends most of her time in her room on her computer. (She's young and acts very much like a teenager/pre-teen). And I'm having a hard time getting her to participate. *The third individual does not use a wheelchair and has very good motor skills, but is at a lower cognitive level. It is hard to get her to focus on something for long, and at times, she exhibits behaviors and can start throwing things and yelling. They also believe she is somewhere on the autism spectrum. *The fourth individual is extremely limited in both cognitive and motor function. She can walk with a lot of assistance, but has to use a wheelchair outside the home. She isn't verbal and her activities are limited to sensory stimulation. I need ideas on things I can do for each of the individuals separately and group activities they may all enjoy... some in-home but mostly in the community.Any help would be much appreciated.
What are fun indoor activities for blind elderly with limited mobility?
The options depend on the interests of the individual, their manual dexterity, their technical savvy, willingness to learn new skills, etc. I attended a local Ham Radio course (3 Saturdays), studied some simple math and administrative rules, etc. and then took an oral exam to obtain my Technician class license. Once you have that license there are a number of ways you can put it to good use from the comfort of your home. Volunteer during emergencies, participate in distance challenges, just chat with distant friends.Some people do arts & crafts. I know a group of elderly women with very limited eyesight who get together and make lovely dressing gowns that are donated to local hospitals. They are given to the parents of babies who are stillborn so these grief-stricken people don’t need to find something appropriate for the baby.I greatly enjoy listening to books on Bookshare.org. That is an entirely free service for people who are “print disabled”. How is that for a new disability? If you cannot use regular books because of vision, paralysis, whatever, this marvelous service allows you to listen to your favorite books entirely for free. You can take classes at Hadley.edu. A free online educational institution for the blind and visually impaired. I just completed Business Law I & II. (Just because). They offer their courses in whatever format you like.Of course, music should certainly be explored. Loss of balance frequently comes along with vision loss and can be helped with the right kinds of exercises and therapies. Definitely don’t overlook these opportunities to get the blood moving and decrease the chances of a fall - as falls obviously can be catastrophic to an elderly person.I would start by just asking what the person is interested in and throw out some options. When I was in school I rushed so fast to graduate I took only the courses I had to have. Now I am taking classes just to satisfy my curiosity. For me, finding ways to volunteer was also critical to my happiness. I think everyone needs a purpose - whether that purpose is tending a window box garden or taking care of a rescued cat.