The local heart and stroke charity Croi has launched a series of programmes aimed at providing fitness solutions for people who are keen to adopt a healthy lifestyle but may be limited in their choices due to medical conditions.
Croi ‘Chair Yoga’ and Croi ‘Active Hour’ are among the new community based movement and flexibility programmes designed to provide fitness solutions for people, especially those with physical limitations, wheelchair users and those with various medical conditions which may mean that a typical one hour exercise class while standing is too challenging.
Croí’s specialist cardiac physiotherapist, Denise Dunne says: "These new initiatives are proving very popular with people post stroke and those with conditions such as COPD and heart failure and we have capacity to cater for many more people who are interested in joining us."
Being physically active prevents and helps control a multitude of health problems, especially, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity but often it is difficult for people with physical limitations to engage in meaningful fitness programmes.
The six-week rolling programmes are specially designed to suit all levels of fitness and abilities and are led by an expert cardiac physiotherapist and yoga trainer.
They provide many benefits, including slow, controlled movement, mental relaxation skills, improved breathing, relaxation of the nervous and digestive system, improved cardiovascular fitness, strength, balance, flexibility and stability in the body. The programme will also help with falls prevention and assist in keeping joints mobile.
"These exciting new initiatives facilitate all ability levels so that everyone can make health gains from participation in these programmes.
"Classes are open to everyone and we will gladly assist you in choosing which programme is right for you so that you have the opportunity to engage in a meaningful health and wellbeing programme to assist lifestyle change or whatever your individual fitness goal may be."
Croi's Chair Yoga and the Croi Active Hour take place in the Croi Heart and Stroke Centre, Newcastle weekly. For further information or to book a place on either of these programmes call Croí on (091 ) 544310 .
