Most gyms, community venues or church halls offer a range of more energetic classes which are designed to get your heart rate up and start you sweating! Examples include aerobics, step, body combat, hydrox and functional fitness. Cardio classes are good for your heart, lungs, bones and joints. They can improve sleep and your overall sense of well-being. Done regularly, cardio classes can help to lower blood pressure, manage diabetes, reduce the risk of osteoporosis (thinning bones) and dementia.
Energetic classes use short bursts of movement to build cardio fitness.
Energetic classes work your whole body and build arm, leg, and core strength.
Cardio classes use arm and leg movements together, which helps balance.
Talk to the instructor at the start of the class and they will make sure you are OK and able to participate. Many Fitness instructors have undergone substantial training to understand how to support people living with the symptoms of long term conditions.
It is much better to move than not, but it is really important to start and build up slowly. Listen to your body, if it feels good keep going, but if it doesn’t, stop. It’s important to find enjoyment in how you move.
It can be hard to know where to start when trying to move more. Everyone begins at a different point, depending on how active they are, how easily they move, and how strong they feel.
To get started, choose the option that best matches what you usually do on an average day in each column below. Look at your daily activities, mobility, and strength to find a sensible place to begin. Then click on the ‘see results’ button to reveal where you should start.
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You may want to consider seated exercise classes or chair-based exercises as you develop your strength and confidence.
You may want to consider seated and supported exercise classes as you develop your strength and confidence.
Decide which class you would like to join and make sure you talk to the instructor at the start of the class to address any concerns you may have. Remember the golden rule, start low and build up gradually. So if it doesn’t feel OK to do the whole class, you can always stop when you have had enough.
Decide which class you would like to join and make sure you talk to the instructor at the start of the class to address any concerns you may have. Remember the golden rule, start low and build up gradually. Exercise at a level which feels comfortable to you. If it doesn’t feel OK to do the whole class, you can always stop when you have had enough.
Decide which class you would like to join and make sure you talk to the instructor at the start of the class to address any concerns you may have. Remember the golden rule, start low and build up gradually.
Many fitness providers and venues do offer accessible options for wheelchair users. Ask at your local gym for options.
Ready to dance? Here are some great places to get started!
Nuffield Health have Fitness & Wellbeing Gyms all over the country and provide access to a wide range of onsite health services and superb gym facilities.
GLL has facilities all across the UK.
Everyone Active has gyms all across the UK.
This site has been put together by specialists in exercise medicine and supported and funded by Nuffield Health Charity. In collaboration with academic experts, specialists in behavioural change, medics across a wide spectrum of specialties, physiotherapists, nurses and most importantly, people living with the symptoms of long term conditions. Through our rigorous academic process we have carefully ensured that all the information on this website is trustworthy and evidence based.
The following organisations have contributed to and endorsed the content of this website.
