Activities Archives - Page 11 of 11 - Outlook

The arrival of warm weather means putting those winter clothes in the shed and getting outside for some sunshine and physical activity. In a previous post, we shared adaptive sports for the winter. Changing seasons present opportunities to participate in warm-weather sports.

Tandem cycling, swimming, golf, and beep baseball are popular activities for the blind. Outlook’s Enrichment Recreational Programs understand that participation in physical activities or adaptive sports requires adaptation to equipment or instruction.

Since we are experiencing a pandemic, Outlook encourages people with visual impairments to consider these activities for the blind once they are safe and possible to participate.

Tandem cycling

Tandem cycling is social and enjoyable while providing good outdoor exercise. In addition to that great workout, tandem cycling requires teamwork, strengthening friendships, and understanding between riders.

For successful tandem cycling, find a good-quality tandem bike and a sighted captain who shares your goals and objectives. Effective communication is critical to enjoying tandem cycling.

Talking to your captain ensures that both of you understand speed, endurance, coasting, and riding style. For tips and advice, join the Outlook Tandem Bike Club or talk to others who cycle.

Golfing

Nice, sunny days are perfect for a round of golf. Sighted coaches assist blind golfers. The coach gives the golfer a course description and correct yardages and helps with club selection and proper alignment. The golfers compete with other golfers within their sight classification. The sight classifications include B-1 (no vision), B-2 (little usable vision), and B-3, (better usable vision).

Outlook Enrichment’s Annual Tee It Up Fore Sight fundraiser in June benefits Outlook Enrichment Programs. To ensure the safety of everyone involved and follow social distancing guidelines, each golfer will schedule a tee time during registration.

Swimming

Swimming is also an excellent physical activity. Swimming can be done alone or in a group setting. A swimmer can do swim exercises, water aerobics, or lap swimming as a workout. For lap swimming, you can count the number of strokes to cover one lap, slowing down as you get close to the end of your lane.

Use a lane rope for orientation, and stay in your lane as you swim. Lap swimming can be adapted using lane markers, which can be brightly colored flotation devices or ropes with flotation markers.

Place a brightly colored marker or an audio device at the end of the lane to help with turns and orientation. If you enjoy swimming in open water like the sea, lake, or river, swimming with a sighted companion for safety is critical. Swim in the direction of the waves and listen for sounds that direct you to land.

Beep baseball

One of America’s favorite pastimes is baseball. With some simple modifications, visually impaired players enjoy this beloved activity. Created in the mid-sixties, beep baseball is played with an oversized beeping softball and two buzzing bases, first and third.

All six team players wear blindfolds to equalize their vision. The sighted pitcher is on the same team as the batter. The batter hits the ball and runs to the base, which buzzes and tags it. He scores a run if he gets there before a fielder picks up the ball.

If not, he is out. Three outs, six innings, and the game is over. This physical yet fun game requires combining strength, skill, and auditory senses to focus on the beeping ball and buzzing bases.

Playing adaptive sports makes staying physically fit enjoyable. Adding some simple modifications allows full participation and engagement in sports. Whether you are a seasoned athlete or a novice, the goal is to get physical exercise and stay energized during these warm spring and summer months.

Everyone is encouraged to stay home and practice social distancing during these challenging times. Daily, we get updates telling us to shelter in place and only leave our homes for essential errands such as grocery shopping, work, or pharmacy pickup. This does not include working out at the gym or participating in group sports or physical activities.

As a result, it can be easy to become sedentary, and it can lead to mental and physical health problems. Thinking of accessible and affordable ways to keep moving and healthy will become critical as we work through this crisis. Fortunately, for people with visual impairments, there are several ways of staying active during COVID-19.

Dancing

Dancing is a fun physical activity that can be done at home. Find a clear space to move freely without bumping into furniture or other objects. Create a playlist of your favorite high-energy songs and get moving around the house. While the music is cranked up, move your body, including arms, legs, feet, shoulders, and back. As you move vigorously to the beat, your heart rate will increase, resulting in a great aerobic workout.

Blind Alive

If you have two left feet and dancing is not your thing, check out Blind Alive. These free downloadable workouts will keep you moving while sheltering in place. Several options are available, such as cardio, yoga, pilates, stretches, and meditation. You can download all workouts to your smartphone, desktop, or laptop, unzip them, and place them on an NLS talking book cartridge.

Accessible Exercise Apps

If you are techy, there are accessible exercise apps on the market that you can use from home. Three iOS examples are Pocket Yoga, Carrot Fit, and the Aaptiv Audio Exercise apps.

Angel Eyes Fitness

Angel Eyes Fitness has the answer for those who want a human personal touch but are trying to maintain social distancing. They provide free virtual live workout classes via Zoom Conferencing for people who are blind or visually impaired. The classes are on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. EST. Go to their website to preview their classes using the calendar link and connect to Zoom. There is no need to register or RSVP.

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Perhaps you already have an at-home workout routine or schedule but need to stay motivated and inspired. Join the Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s Get Up and Go! Discussion Group. Each month, a topic is discussed to encourage people to stay active no matter their level of vision. Participants can call in by phone or computer using Zoom conferencing.

Other Ways of Staying Active During COVID-19

There are numerous ways to stay physically active at home. Gardening, walking up and down stairs, completing household chores, and taking a short brisk walk around the neighborhood keep the body moving.

Whether you have been working out regularly or just recently decided to get active, incorporate the above suggestions into your life as we all continue staying active during COVID-19.

Each year, most people resolve to get physically fit and stay active. Traditional methods to achieve this include going to the local gym, attending an aerobic or yoga class, or participating in a sporting activity. These are all great ways to keep moving, but sometimes, those options are not feasible or accessible to people with visual impairments. Outlook’s Enrichment Recreational Programs are put together with the understanding that participating in physical activities for the blind or sports requires only a simple adaptation of equipment or instruction. Active visually impaired people often see an increase in self-confidence, social life, and life skills and have a sense of belonging. Skiing, goalball, and bowling are popular activities for the blind during these cold winter months.

Skiing

Skiing is a great physical activity and the ultimate winter sport. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced skier, you will find enjoyment after each run. Adaptive skiing matches the blind or visually impaired skier with a sighted, experienced ski guide. As they ski together, the guide gives directions and shares changes in surroundings and the terrain. Both guide and skier wear a vest that identifies them to prevent other skiers from skiing in between them. Many people enjoy either cross-country or downhill skiing. The major difference is that cross-country skiing occurs on smaller slopes and hills, while downhill skiing involves steeper slopes. If you are interested in skiing with others who are visually impaired, connect with organizations such as the American Blind Skiing Foundation or Ski for Light.

Goalball

Goalball is the most popular team sport for the blind and visually impaired. It originated in 1946 when Austrian Hanz Lorenzen and German Sett Reindle developed it as a way to keep blinded WWII veterans physically active. Goalball has become the premier team sport for blind athletes and is played competitively in 112 countries.

In goalball, two teams of three players face each other across a court. The game aims to roll a basketball-sized ball with bells inside over the opponent’s goal line. The opposite team listens for the oncoming ball and attempts to block it with their bodies. They become the offensive team once they stop the ball and take control. It is played on a court with tactile markings so that players can determine their location on the court and which direction they are facing. Players take turns throwing the ball at each other’s goal.

Goalball is typically played by people with visual impairments, but all players are required to wear eye masks so the experience is equal. The ball makes noise in motion so the players can locate it audibly. This sport requires the audience to be silent while watching.

Bowling

Bowling is a fun activity that people who are blind and visually impaired can enjoy with their sighted friends and family. There are no rule modifications and visually impaired bowlers are allowed a visual description of the ball’s path, pins knocked down, or pins remaining. There are two adaptive ways to play: sighted guide assistance or a guide rail. When using the sighted guidance method, a sighted person aligns the blind bowler on the approach before the delivery. For the more independent bowler, guide rails help with strategy and delivery. These lightweight tubular metal rails are easy to assemble, disassemble, and store easily. Some alleys or bowling centers have guide rails already in place or available for loan. Sign up for our Annual Bowling Bash to enjoy the game and have fun with your peers.

Playing adaptive sports makes staying physically fit enjoyable. Adding some basic modifications allows full participation and engagement in sports. Whether you are a seasoned athlete or just a novice, the goal is to exercise physically and stay energized during these cold winter months with activities for the blind. Stay tuned for an additional post on adaptive sports for spring and summer.

Adaptive Sports to Keep You Active During Spring and Summer