Hello, and welcome (or welcome back)!
I hope everyone is doing well and feeling safe, healthy, and happy :).
This week’s article will focus on the different exercises I have been doing during the quarantine to try and keep myself sort of healthy.
Now, you know as much as anyone that trying to maintain a regular exercise routine while having a chronic illness can be extremely difficult. A lot of the time, we feel tired or in pain, and the last thing we feel like doing is getting up and moving.
However, I recently participated in a Facebook Live session with Sickle Cell 101, where they featured a doctor who talked about how those with Sickle Cell should best cope with their pain. I learned that if I have pain in my body but I’m still able to move, I should do everything in my power to move. At first, I scoffed at this advice because it sounded counterintuitive. But then I realized that it made sense—-if you want the pain to stop, then the blood cells need to move, and to get your blood to move you need to move.
So….I found a few fun, non-strenuous, Disney themed workouts that you can do at home.
Before we dive in, make sure you are staying cool and hydrated and taking breaks while you exercise. Do not push yourself!
1. Dancing! Dancing in general is great. Dancing with others is fantastic. Dancing by yourself tops all else. Next time you have the energy, pull up some of your favorite upbeat Disney songs on whatever song app you use (I use Spotify), and get to moving. I usually do 15 minutes of dancing, depending on how I am feeling. It’s a great way to release tension and boost your mood! My favorite Disney songs to dance to are: ‘Step in Time’ from Mary Poppins, ‘Under the Sea’ from The Little Mermaid, ‘Zero to Hero’ from Hercules, ‘Son of a Man’ from Tarzan, and ‘Prince Ali’ from Aladdin.
2. Walking! A new favorite workout of mine has been to walk or jog in place while watching a YouTube video of a theme park walk through. The videos are usually between 20 and 60 minutes long, and it’s a great way to exercise while also getting to experience the theme parks we miss so much. So far, I have been walking to a Magic Kingdom video: Magic Kingdom 2019 4K Full Complete Walkthrough Tour | Walt Disney World Orlando Florida and a Universal Studios Orlando video: Universal Studios Orlando 2019 | Full Complete Walkthrough Tour
3. Yoga! I have found yoga and meditation to be extremely helpful during the quarantine. It has been a very stressful time, and for those with sickle cell, stress can be a pain crises trigger. Yoga helps me because I am able to stretch out my achy joints, calm my body down, and quiet my head. I always listen to the Disney Piano playlist on Spotify, which you can find on this website!
So that’s how I’ve been keeping my body healthy during this time! Make sure to let me know your at home exercise regimens!
Until next time….
Stay safe and stay magical!
Ashley, MCT
My Chronic Travels 