(33, Hypersensitive Pneumonitis, 48.5% lung function and 1.8litre lung capacity)
Whilst I was going through the joys of lung biopsy, collapse lung etc, I used physio led Pilates as my rehab tool to build my strength back up, manage my breathing etc.It really helped, i still do go to classes and 1:1. I loved it so much that I did my teacher training.
I’ve been teaching for a few months now and this week had my first ever severe lung disease class participant. As they need their little machine with them, they had never felt able to attend classes. With exercising their torso a huge mental barrier as well.
it’s terrifying going into a ‘normal’ fitness environment isn’t it? Even if we can ‘hide’ our diseases. (Nobody should have to hide but we try to don’t we a lot of the time)
my classes have a huge variety of people and it’s a wonderful safe space. I genuinely feel honoured that people feel comfortable and safe coming along. It’s led to a few feeling more comfortable to join a gym or become involved in other things.
But this week as I said, was my first lung buddy (although I have had a chronic asthma participant before to) and honestly I feel so honoured it could bring me to tears. My classes are a nice pace so we were able to see what that individual could do and what was more difficult. I think it was a success as they’d like to come back twice a week.
It’s got me thinking, and I’d love some feedback.
Do you ever feel afraid/self conscious/anxious/any negative feeling about joining a community exercise class?
id love to hear your stories, your thoughts and feelings.
I encourage anyone to join my classes, but I have been thinking of running a specific ‘Resp’ class during the week too. As a lung person, would you feel more confident coming to a resp class to build knowledge, confidence and strength before trialling general classes?
I’d love to hear what issues you have, strength and knowledge problems, what you wish you could find, what would take you to a class etc 😊 Also what you enjoy, what your goals are.
Community is people supporting people and that’s what I want to do.
Meg x
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Congratulations! A resp class is a great idea; I think those of us with severe levels of disease wld b more inclined to attend with similar people.could u contact local respiratory team to see if suitable as a follow on group from pulmonary rehab, guidance etc
Yes I was intending to chat to my resp team to have some input and feedback. I just feel I’m in a good position to offer such a thing, especially with severe lung disease myself. I run a self paced class regardless but I would like to do something solely for us lung gang.
thank you 😊 zoom sessions is something I would love to look at doing. I just need to work out the logistics on keeping people safe etc. I’d love to offer short sessions to gradually build exercise tolerance and then the option for longer sessions to.
My right leg doesn't bend very well after an accident and operations. I have attended yoga classes and exercise classes that were described as being suitable for everyone, but they proved not to be suitable for me because I cannot crouch or put the same weight on my right side as I can my left.
I had a lady with bronchiectasis choose not to continue attending my singing for lung health group because it made her cough up a lot of phlegm, even though we all reassured her we didn't mind, and it was doing her good to shift the phlegm, and there was a convenient toilet she could use.
yes I’ve attended a few classes that are advertised as suitable for all but actually aren’t. ‘All’ doesn’t always take into account anybody who isn’t able bodied. Which is something I’m trying to change. I chat to every new class member before they attend to find out if there’s anything such as your issue, so I can make sure I adapt things. I keep my classes relatively small and people are also welcome and encouraged to ask questions during the class, call me over etc. it’s a lush community that’s building (I hope).
There will always be mental barriers or issues I can’t get around but all we can do is try. Create environments that are safe and inclusive where people can try things. But there will be times where people face mental barrier challenges. It sounds like you run a wonderful class!
I’m hoping to offer chair Pilates and classes where most work is on the floor so anybody with leg issues etc is still able.
Pilates was actually created for bed bound POW soldiers. So the true nature of Pilates it should be able to be adapted for everyone. Which is why I did my clinical physio led training rather than general Pilates 😊
I don’t push. My classes are self paced. Pilates is about control and learning how your body works and what it needs. I teach the muscles in a natural way, that should be used.
I give an idea of how many of each move you should do but I don’t count you, I advise to do it at your own breathe pace. If control is ever lost, to stop, rest, breathe and join back in.
Bridge and holds I do count but encourage people to stop the hold when it isn’t right for them.
Everyone is welcome to stop and reset, take a break, have a drink etc whenever they want to. I remind people of this during the class.
I am very self conscious and anxious about joining a community exercise class. Partly due to very poor breathing capacity, but also because I am so thin.
People can get strange notions about you when you are very thin. They either think you are a dodgy character or you must have suffered a severe illness to be so thin. Either way, they can be quite prejudiced. They also seem to think because you are thin, you should be better at exercising and if not, it is because you are not pushing yourself hard enough. Hence, I don't go to any community exercise class.
I was very thin when younger (BMI 16), and people automatically assumed I was fit because I was thin. My weight had dropped off when I gave up drinking alcohol. A year or so later I gave up smoking and used the munchies you get then to put enough weight back on to get to a BMI of 22. It took the COPD diagnosis in 2018 to get me to work harder on my general fitness and well-being.
I would happily join a community exercise class if it's as gentle and sympathetic as yours appears to be. I'm currently on a NHS pulmonary rehab course and I don't enjoy having to get myself up to 5-6 on the Borg scale for several minutes, while bopping along to some dreadful pop music, twice a week! There has to be a better, gentler way to get fit again
I love my classes! (But I am enjoying this week off on a break up North! ) I do pilates, yoga and seated zumba. I know I'm very lucky with my intructors and new friends. One pilates instructor is always training and her special interest is prehab, rehab and 'mature' participants. I think you two are very similar! 🙂 Izzy wants us to help her discover what holds people back and why we joined and they didn't. I only discovered recently that a new friend had been sticking up for me in another class by explaining that my cough was lung disease not covid! Your idea of respiratory class is amazing and I would join if you're local. The physio at Harefield transplant unit calls excercise 'Training for transplant' and that's now my mantra!
Hi Meg 🙋♀️. I would love to join a class like yours but I rely on public transport so a bit limited to where I can go and locally they only have really fast exercise group and one pilates group. (For my age/ability). I tried the pilates but the after my initial lesson the instructor said I wasn't suitable for her class. Mainly because I found it difficult to get from laying down to sitting up! 🙄. Just want to wish you well for your classes and say you are fulfilling a need out there 🙂👍xxx
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breathing exercises
Hyperinflation of lungs
Lung Transplantation 
lung hyperinflation, 
I posted a month ago about exercise, things have improved.
