Get active on your terms with adaptive workouts

We know that exercise is an important part of our physical and mental health and wellbeing, however the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare tell us that 72% of Australians with a disability report having insufficient physical activity, a factor that can influence poorer health outcomes.  

It’s a statistic we are aiming to change with Aruma’s Preventive Health Strategy. We want to create a culture of health promotion within Aruma and empower staff and participants to maintain good health through improved health literacy, personal skill development, and effective primary healthcare access.  

So, join us! Whether you’re a health and fitness junkie looking for a new challenge, or just starting out, here’s six tips to get you moving towards your health goals.  

• Consider your equipment 

Before your rule yourself out of a class, activity or sport, consider whether there is a modification available. Perhaps it’s a seated yoga class, or a conversation with the instructor prior to the class for advice on adaptations. If mobility is a challenge, there’s a range of equipment available to support you – stretchy bands, foam blocks and other specialised items can make challenging moves much more achievable.  

• Make a splash 

Hydrotherapy – or water therapy – uses individual’s body buoyancy together with warmth and the resistance of water to help people with disabilities improve strength and mobility, but let’s make it fun. Join a water aerobics class, or introduce some games to keep things enjoyable, a game of ‘Marco Polo’, or an in-pool dance competition are just a few ways water therapy can be fitness-made-fun.  

• Stay seated  

Check your local fitness clubs for a ‘seated’ fitness class, there’s a range available including pilates, yoga and weights, which can be perfect for people with movement restrictions or those in wheelchairs. If there’s nothing nearby, there’s no shortage of workout videos on youtube to replicate at home.  

• Make exercise fun 

Blast your favourite playlist, podcast or call a friend on your morning walk. To make it more fun, set up a scavenger hunt on your walking route and tick off the items as you find them. Find new and fun ways to make the mundane more fun and watch how much easier it is to meet your fitness goals.   

• Set your goals  

Start small and make it achievable. Write down your goals and enjoy the satisfaction of ticking them off. Perhaps your long-term goal is to walk 5kms, break it down and start with a walk to the letterbox. Don’t be afraid to reward yourself after achieving each goal and then set some new ones!   

• Call in the experts 

For more individualised and specialised fitness tips, check out the Able Digital Wellness app. A favourite with many Aruma participants, the app contains tailored exercise programs, recipes, diet advice, introductions to a range of sports, yoga and mental wellness tools, all created for people with a disability and their support networks.