Hi asthma mates!

[Wheezycat]

I was recently closely following the post, and all the responses, on excercise. Like so many others, it seems, I am not naturally athletic or sporty, but have always liked to keep active. However, that has now become harder, in part, I suppose, as I am getting older so also more tired.

For the first time this year I have struggled with breathlessness in cold weather, something I find really irksome as I grew up in a very cold climate (northern Scandinavia), but there it is. I am aware of all the ‘tricks’ like Ventolin before going out walking, warm up, start slowly, and scarfe over face and all that - though I would feel a bit silly doing warmups before popping in to the local Coop, just 3-4 minutes away.....

Anyway, it seems increasingly clear that in cold weather my excercising is better done indoors. So far I do yoga regularly - it helps my breathing, circle dancing, and very occasionally a bit of bouldering, but since a friend got into a considerable amount of back pain following a small, but unfortunate slip, I have got a bit frightened of it. Bouldering certainly can build many muscles in your body, and it is certainly not repetitive. You have to focus on what you are doing, so it is not boring. For me gyms are mind-bogglingly boring, so I have really struggled with it.

Just to fire up my imagination, please let me know what is your favourite indoor activity. I am looking for the less common, not so much the standard go-to like swimming and Zumba and all that. If it brings a smile to my face, so much the better! I look forward to all sorts of weird suggestions.........but no intimate details of a sexual nature please!

[Elsie87]

“Anti-gravity yoga” is my exercise of choice and helps build lots of different muscles (there is a fitness variation of the class too). Always a real mix of genders, sizes and abilities in the classes I go to, with opportunities for rest and more challenging Aerial sequences as time goes on. Lots of inversions in the class too, which I’d never be able to achieve with normal yoga

I like it because i think it’s great for relieving back pain (they speak a lot about the inversions realigning your spine - it sounds completely silly, but if I don’t go for a while I feel a difference). Also if my asthma is not fantastic I can very much take the class at my own pace (plus there’s the opportunity to lie down in the hammock at the end!). Whether my fitness and strength is at its best or worst I am still able to do the class and get something from it and always help my mood (getting to do back flips, tricks and fly add to the challenge, but are very much doable with the assistance of the hammock you work with)

It might be that you find the combination of using your mind and dance skills for the aerial sequences, your own body weight and strength like bouldering for climbs and jumps, and the breathing and movement sequences of yoga could make it a class you really enjoy

It might be tricky to track classes down outside of London, but if you ever have the opportunity to try it out then definitely do! There are lots of videos on the internet of what classes look like to give you a better idea (I wouldn’t teach yourself as beginners really do need supervision but most classes have newbies in and the instructor will keep an eye on you to ensure you’re working through the sequences safely).

I have seen the classes appear on apps like move Uk and a couple of gym chains do offer it. But do look as well at independent places and aerial / circus schools like flying fantastic

[Wheezycat in reply to Elsie87]

Now, that sounds fun! I will look it up, but I doubt it exists here, in little York. I do ordinary yoga, very crumblie’s level that I have no desire to move from, as it is all flexible depending on where you are at, and that really suits me. So, I can go back sooner after an asthma episode, as it is fine to lie down and do nothing after five minutes if it is all too much.

Confession time: I used to do traditional Egyptian dancing, for years, so reasonably competent, but no expert. Before you ask, we did not bare our midriffs! It wasn’t that sort! But I no longer go, it sort of had had its day.

[Elsie87 in reply to Wheezycat]

It’s good you’ve found a class you like though! It’s a nice feeling when you have a class / instructor who is understanding

On YouTube there are lots of BodyBalance class videos - it’s a mix of tai chi, yoga and pilates (with balance and twist sections) - it’s all done to music and you could essentially pick out the sections you like / do it at your own pace on a mat at home. I am completely inflexible and I couldn’t even balance on one leg before I started that class. Because it’s not “proper” yoga there’s no judgement and I also find the tai chi section so relaxing. If you like the class format I think lots of places do it across the country as well as there being online subscriptions

A short example - m.youtube.com/watch?v=uwjvI...(Not working as expected?)

That said I’m currently hiding under the duvet on the sofa and even the thought walking to the kitchen is enough for me today (exercising does not come naturally to me, but it’s so frustrating when you don’t feel well enough to exercise when you actually want to!)

[Wheezycat in reply to Elsie87]

The problem with this idea is that I already pay for about three activities, the first I mentioned, and occasionally swimming or bouldering or something else. My current yoga class is sacrosanct. Also there is only so much more time in the week I am willing to spend out and about (though getting on in years I do still work a bit, including twice a week to fairly late hours, and also some in the day), so I am looking for no cost Home based activities.

Picking up chocolates must use a few calories, but, not enough, sadly. There is also, of course extreme ironing, but somehow it lacks. What about a knit and march on the spot combo? Or daily curtain hoovering? Any ideas, however ridiculous, are welcomed. Then I will pick out the nuggets that could cheer me on.

[Minushabens]

You probably don't want to hear that mine are sitting in my rocking chair, eating chocolate, drinking beer & playing chess then

I do have to walk to the kitchen though in order to achieve the above.

[Wheezycat in reply to Minushabens]

Minushaben, I do like! I have periods when I have been unwell, when I can manage to do very little! I don’t play chess (not patient enough, one game took hours, because my husband who is competent, thinks forever. I have a life to lead as well!), instead i watch crap television, or, if energy levels are good enough, I read. I am normally a bookaholic, when I am not unwell.

Anyway, it is good to hear that others, like me, don’t move much, but I do end up worrying about my physical body - and too much sitting makes me hurt. Still nice to know I am not alone.

[Minushabens in reply to Wheezycat]

Well, I'm a definite chocoholic, have the capacity at times to be a bookaholic & am saving up so that when I retire I can fine-tune the alcohol abuse.

Oddly, chess has always been a bit of a therapy for me when I have bad symptoms. Years ago (probably late 70s) when computers first appeared, I got one & could sit & play for hours in the days when it was poorly controlled.

In some ways, I'm lucky that at the moment my job is a very physically active one (I recently retrained as a primary school teacher so 32 8-year olds in a small room probably offset the booze). I try to do little things really - run up 2 or 3 stairs, or more, do domestic chores energetically, walk around for no reason & clock steps on my phone.

I walked home from the pub as well last night.

[M-D-F in reply to Minushabens]

Do make sure you get someone to unwrap the chocolate, I would hate for to have a seizure, why don't you move the rocking chair to the kitchen.........

[Minushabens in reply to M-D-F]

It’s an interesting idea but to be honest the view isn’t as good & there’s an inherent risk that Mrs Minushabens starts making unreasonable demands like “put the kettle on” or “can you make me a sandwich”. On balance, too risky.

[Hally1973 in reply to Minushabens]

Hahahhah rhis has cheered me up no end! I'm still laughing....

[ElizabethC in reply to Minushabens]

Don't have a rocking chair but my sewing desk chair instead. Don't do the beer (its lemon juice on water) but definitely the chocolate and chess (on a computer).

I find "excercise" for exercises own sake utterly boring. In 2016 I managed (after a bad attack of flu/laryingitis in 2015 which probably has exacerbated my breathing issues that I've regaled here on Health Unlocked a few times), to getting myself walking to my old speed and without breathlessness.

I was so proud of getting to walk around an hour a day through the course of my day which included power walking from my office to the town centre and back at lunch time (was around a 1/4 of a mile) and a similar distance from car park to office and back. Plus going up and downstairs (2 and sometimes 3 floors) in my office rather than using the lift. And I was fast!

Sadly January 2017 respiratory infections has left me very breathless and its just got worse every time I've had more respiratory infections.

So far (touch my little wooden head) I am infection free but the breathlessness when moving around is still there. Now am being investigated by a consultant and I hope once its been decided what is wrong, I can have a proper course of treatment and management and maybe get back to walking again.

Think the chocolate and chess with comfy chair will still be good though.

[Minushabens in reply to ElizabethC]

When I find the time I play a lot of online chess. I play in a team as well (being honest, another reason to spend a night in a pub whilst pretending I'm intelligent) but have parked that for a couple of years while I retrain & fail my NQT year.

Oddly, I suspect a good hour or two of online chess blitz games might not be that bad, as you can really raise your heart rate at times when a game gets tense (honest boys & girls, they sometimes do).

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I'm following this too! I'm awful at trying exercise things and then dropping them, though I did look up the adult beginner ballet recommended on another thread. I may even go at some point...

For me, I think it's a combination of not finding something I like yet and my lungs being so variable and frequently badly behaved so that even getting to work might as well be a marathon at times. I had to give up my choir which I really did like, because we had to commit to a certain number of rehearsals and I am just too unpredictable atm. I can still sing at times, but not reliably enough for a choir like that which is what I actually want to do.

I will keep looking out for exercise I like but meanwhile try to build it into my day when I can with stairs, walking etc. Oh and eating chocolate. It contains theobromine (I only like dark chocolate) which is chemically related to one of my asthma medications and therefore medicinal

[ElizabethC in reply to Lysistrata]

Oooh I could have written this. Are you sure we aren't twins??

I did Adult Ballet and would sooo love to do it again but right now - walking around is difficult. Just like you I haven't been able to really find "excercise" I really like to do.

As I mentioned above, I had managed to get walking into my day - an hour a day for 5 days a week including stairs (2 - 3 floors). Now I am gasping getting into the office from the closer carpark behind the office. And I have to use the lift.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to ElizabethC]

Chocolate too? Yes I am the same re exercise for its own sake. I would so much rather be doing something else, so I have to do it by stealth when I can. Very frustrating when not possible - I'm not really lazy I don't think, just find exercise boring and I like to be able to move around fast.

I really hope you can find a solution which gets you back to that - it's so frustrating when everyone else is faster and you can't even do the basics! Plus I always feel guilty for not doing more. Though I did manage to shame one of the office chain smokers during a good period for me - he was gasping after a few flights of stairs and I pointed out that I do those stairs frequently, if slowly. My colleagues all know my lungs are rubbish and unpredictable and that I have a loyalty card for hotel NHS, so i think this was not his best moment.

[ElizabethC in reply to Lysistrata]

Ooh definitely - chocolate too!! (I do recommend Hotel Chocolat!).

I used to be able to overtake most people - certainly in 2016. But not the past year. The snails and tortoises are overtaking me now. So frustrating.

[M-D-F]

Dear wheezycat, if you are wearing a scarf to go to the Co-op, make sure you remove it before you go into the store, in case you get TAZERED, buy an anxious shop assistant😂.......

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to M-D-F]

I forgot once going into Timpson's and they asked me if I was planning to rob them. Of all the places...I'm not sure the insoles and keyrings would be worth a jail sentence

[Wheezycat in reply to M-D-F]

Hi! Yes, a reasonable comment. However, my scarf is very loosely wrapped, and my face can be seen. If it is tighter, my glasses steam up, so you would not need the tazer, just grab me and steer me wherever you want! I would be none the wiser, for a while.

[Marthabob]

I am also frightened of exercise now having been very athletic most of my life.

I went to a Festival last summer and found myself Bhangra dancing energetically and happily for a whole hour. I came home determined to find somewhere I could do it on a regular basis. Haven’t done it yet as so busy but try and dance on my own

I try to go up and down the stairs st home and also walk around the house counting steps on my pedometer. Sometimes manage over 2 miles if I put my mind to it.

Highly recommend the Bhangra dancing though.

[Wheezycat in reply to Marthabob]

I have tried that before, just for a couple of hours. It is highly energetic, and I am not sure I could keep up for more than a couple of minutes before I lose my breath! But it was fun!

[Minushabens in reply to Marthabob]

I have been trying to teach my kids Bhangra dancing in PE. I’m not sure what was worse, my efforts or theirs.

[Wheezebag]

Thanks all of you for cheering me up on a wet Monday. I was feeling quite pleased with myself up to last weekend for walking for 40 Minutes on two days. Today I had to go and get antibiotics and more prednisolone for a chest infection and was down in the dumps until I read all your posts. I'm now thinking I may manage a bit of ironing, although not the extreme variety!!!

[Wheezycat]

Just today a friend of mine recommended I get a kind of face mask that skiers use, one you can breath through, but which also keeps air warm (I think). Now can you imagine me walking through town with a big mask on, the mouth piece I am told is white, the rest black. I would look like a one person alien invasion! (I will look it up, but not sure this is for me.)

[Minushabens in reply to Wheezycat]

If you go to a football match wearing that, you will immediately be identified as a young hooligan & attract Police attention. Which frankly is well worth it, so I recommend you go for it.

[Wheezycat in reply to Minushabens]

Just now it is warmer, so no issue. I think I rather pray, on my knees though that is not part of my normal life, for temperatures to be above, say, 8 degrees. No, I have a much loved colourful scarfe, and it will have to do. If I ever plan for a long, chilly hike (unlikely) I will think of it. I want to retain just a mini-tad of sense of pride.

[Hidden]

Ballet (minus pointe work) is my favoured form of exercise which has the advantage of indoor classes all year round. I now do a couple of classes a week and it does a very, very good job at keeping me fit