Sighted people don’t often stop to consider the extra challenges a blind person faces to stay in shape. Like everything else in a blind person’s life, exercise and physical activity requires extra effort and overcoming obstacles. Blind persons face challenges such as obesity, depression, and lowered overall health unless they find ways to be active. Sighted people often innocently facilitate non-active behavior on the part of the visually impaired out of a sense of low expectations. But with the right accommodations, the blind can live active, healthy lives.
Life Coaches Can Help
The first step life coaches perform with a new blind client is to assess the individual’s needs. A totally blind person will have to be taught exercise differently from those you can rely on useful vision. For instance, a life coach will teach aerobics through verbal description and touch to demonstrate movements. Partially-sighted individuals may be able to pick up some visual stimuli, but a trainer cannot make that assumption.
Another challenge is creating appropriate accommodates that are safe. A specially adapted exercise room is ideal. Care must be taken to keep all equipment in its place and not leave items like weights or ropes lying around. Usually, the visually impaired will become comfortable in a room whose contents are consistently placed. An exercise plan will allow the client to follow a familiar routine, which is critical for developing confidence.
One of the simplest exercises for the visually impaired is walking or running on a treadmill. Once they become proficient with the device, they can run for as long as they want and burn as many calories as they need. Outdoor running is trickier but certainly achievable. The client will run in tandem with the coach maintaining contact directly through touch (usually a hand on the trainer’s elbow) or by holding onto a guide rope. Ropes can also be placed around a track to allow the blind to run alone.
Swimming is another activity that can be mastered by the blind. Touch techniques are taught so that the swimmer can sense lane ropes and upcoming pool walls. Some pools come equipped with sound generators that allow blind swimmers to gauge how far they are from the end of the pool. A stationary bike is ideal for the visually impaired, as it requires no modification and little instruction. To do real outdoor biking, a tandem bike allows the trainer to guide the bike while the client enjoys the sensations of being outside.