Dear LPG

Being active is essential to stay healthy. Our physical capabilities diminish with the passage of time, so we can eventually stop feeling like doing exercise. But we should change our way of thinking! You don’t need to run a marathon and doing some small exercises at home can help you improve your health. Did you know that you can even do them sitting?

The NHS has published a document that contains some exercises designed for the elderly that can be performed sitting on a chair. Just choose one that is stable, solid and without wheels or arms, put on loose, comfortable clothes, and keep some water handy. Then all is ready? Now you can start.

First, you can stretch your chest. Sit upright and away from the back of the chair, pull your shoulders back and extend your arms out to the side. Now, gently push your chest forward and up until you feel a stretch across your chest. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds and repeat 5 times.  After that, you can stretch your ankle. Hold on to the side of the chair and straighten your left leg with your foot off the floor. With your leg straight and raised, point your toes away from you. Finally point toes back towards you. Would you like to learn one more exercise? Even neck rotation would be good for you. Just slowly turn your head towards your left shoulder as far as it is comfortable and hold for five seconds. Now return to the starting position and repeat going right.

These are just some examples of easy yet useful exercises you can do while sitting at your own place. If you want to discover more movements, you can visit this website:

HB, Blackheath

LPG offers a link to the document that HB and found a simple neck exercise video for those who would appreciate a little practical encouragement.  LPG would again offer the age-old advice that it is worth checking with your GP just to make sure that you will not be adversely affected by them though. 

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