COVID 19 & PA- How and Why to Stay Active, NOW!!!
We get it!!! We are all stuck at home on some level of social distancing and isolation. We may be nervous, anxious, or even a little depressed at the state of our world.
While reading this post may not do anything to stem the tide of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it may help to keep your health and sanity during these trying times. The American College of Sports Medicine Exercise is Medicine (R) Initiative #exerciseismedicine #eim has released a handout and blog on why and how you should stay healthy during the Pandemic. Here is a link to other ACSM resources on exercising during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Exercise is beneficial for us in so many ways.
- Exercise Releases Stress
- Exercise Boosts Your Immune System
- Exercise Boosts Your Mood
- Physical Activity and Exercise Improve Your Overall Health!
Harvard Medical School has recommended exercise, specifically yoga and mediation, during this time. If you want to try Yoga or Meditation check out the FMB Yoga Project Site and click Online Classes #wearefmb. Our online classes are free to our community, both near and far, during this challenging time. (Remember, not having enough time to exercise is really no longer a valid excuse.)
If you already have an exercise program and need help to transition it to your house, here are some other resources that might help. You can always email me with questions, I am happy to help.
If you are looking for an app to help with Meditation, here are some resources, besides us, that you can use to meditate on your own. Meditation is just like any other activity, it takes time to master. Don't be frustrated if you sit to meditate and well, it just doesn't happen. Continue to try, for short bouts of time, daily, it will come.
The following was adapted from Mindful.Org
The entry price is FREE, however, you have to navigate around the subscription screen with the button that says “Start 7 Day Trial. Once you scroll past that, you can access the free content. This app has a lot of content with over 25,000 guided meditations from around 3,000 teachers on topics like stress, relationships, creativity, and more.
Right from the beginning, the app feels like a community—the home screen announces, “420,065 meditations today, 5,059 meditating right now.” In fact, Insight Timer has attracted more than 6 million meditators from around the world. After you finish a meditation, you’ll learn exactly how many people were meditating “with you” during that time—and by setting your location, you can even see meditators nearby and what tracks they’re listening to.
This app is FREE. Its uniqueness comes from its smaller content that is easier to navigate. The app features hundreds of meditations, enough to keep you engaged without overwhelming you with choice. Most meditations are in the five- to the fifteen-minute range, with a few practices up to 45 minutes for advanced meditators. Paid option: None
3) Stop, Breathe & Think
This app is also free to start with a paid version if you choose ($89.99).
If other apps expect you to dive right in, Stop, Breathe & Think wants to create a more deliberate, intentional experience. A section called Learn to Meditate explains what mindfulness is and why it’s beneficial, including some of the neuroscience and physiology behind it. Each day when you open the app, you’re asked “How are you?” and invited to check in with yourself—to rate your mind and body on a scale of “rough” to “great,” and note up to five emotions you’re feeling. Then, Stop, Breathe & Think will recommend meditations, mindful walks, and even acupressure videos tailored to how you feel.
4) UCLA Mindful
This app is also FREE and is based on all the research done by the Mindful Awareness Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). You can learn to focus on your breath, your body, or sounds; work with difficult emotions; and cultivate loving-kindness in sessions ranging from 3 to 19 minutes long.
If you’re new to mindfulness, you might choose to take advantage of their Getting Started section, which offers information on what mindfulness is, how to choose a meditation, which posture is best for your practice, and what research-backed benefits you might expect from it.
5) 10% Happier
This app is FREE to start with a paid version at $99.99 per year.
The tagline for 10% Happier tells you the most important thing you need to know about the app. It’s “meditation for fidgety skeptics”—a relatable, no-nonsense way to learn mindfulness for people whose goals veer more toward sharpening their brains than befriending their souls. Unlike some other mindfulness apps, 10% Happier comes with a tour guide. Dan Harris is a news anchor who famously had a panic attack on live TV, an experience that eventually led him to
6) Headspace
This app has a FREE trial and then is $12.99 a month. This is a great resource for articles and information on mindfulness, meditation, and stress management. Headspace also has some mindfulness and movement programs so you can work on your "head" at the same time you work on your physical body.
This app has a FREE trial and then is $12.99 a month. This is a great resource for articles and information on mindfulness, meditation, and stress management. Headspace also has some mindfulness and movement programs so you can work on your "head" at the same time you work on your physical body.Thoughts On Evaluating a Health & Wellness/Fitness App
How many times have we downloaded an app never to use it? The picture below helps to determine how to choose the right app for you in the health & fitness space.
Regardless of what you decide to do, decide to do something. Getting moving, inside, or outside as you can is a great way to use this time productively. Your health and body will thank you.
See you on the Virtual Mat
Renee J. Heil, PhD, RCEP, EIM III
Chair Exercise is Medicine(R) on Campus Committee
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