It’s surprising just how many ways there are for you to enjoy an active lifestyle. Whether you’re non-disabled or living with a disability, keeping fit can help you in your day-to-day life. Not only does it give your physical health and your mental wellbeing a boost, it helps keep you at a healthy weight, too. In this short article, we reveal 4 reasons to start getting into shape today… plus we’ll tell you about a revolutionary under-the-desk exercise bike that helps you keep fit, even while you’re sat down at home.
Exercise makes you stronger
It sounds obvious, but it’s true. Exercising regularly makes you stronger, whether you live with a disability or not. But not just in the way you might think. Sure, if you do any kind of weights or resistance training, you’ll notice pretty quickly how much more toned and stronger your muscles feel. But at the same time, as your physical strength improves, so too does your mental strength. You start to feel stronger in your mind as well as within your body.
If you use a wheelchair as a mobility aid, you may well have been told to work on keeping your leg muscles strong. Perhaps you’ve even looked into an under-the-desk stepper as a way of keeping your legs active. Remember, pushing a wheelchair can tighten up your chest and your shoulder muscles can become tight, so it’s worth working on these muscles to help prevent injury.
Regular exercise makes you feel good
Have you ever come across the term ‘runner’s high’? It basically describes the feeling of elation you get after a period of vigorous exercise, either running or using a mini elliptical machine, for example. The scientific explanation is that during exercise, your brain releases ‘feel-good’ chemicals called endorphins. This gives you a feeling of positivity each time you work out.
It’s one of the reasons that doctors recommend exercise for people living with mild or moderate depression or anxiety. Put simply, exercising regularly, to the point where you really get your heart pumping, will make you feel good.
Exercise is good for your social life, too
Some people like to exercise at home and invest in equipment such as bikes, rowing machines, or an elliptical stepper to help them stay fit. But often it can be more fun to take up an exercise class or join an exercise group. And there are a couple of reasons why you might want to consider it. Firstly, it’s a great way to step out of your comfort zone and try something new – a type of exercise you’re not used to. Secondly, it allows you to meet new people and feel like you’re doing something as part of a group, rather than just struggling along on your own.
Keeping fit can help you keep your independence
Staying fit and active isn’t just about staying in shape. By keeping your mind and body healthy, you give yourself a better chance of staying independent. The simple fact is that if you lose the ability to be able to do things for yourself, you have to turn to other people for help. Relying on others to do basic jobs for you can feel restrictive. So, trying to keep your body strong and supple – even by regularly using a simple exercise machine like an under-the-desk stepper – is a sensible way to maintain your freedom.
Meet Orbitrek MX & Orbitrek MN: the under the desk elliptical that helps you sit and get fit
Sometimes the thought of exercising can be quite daunting, especially if you’re worried about putting too much pressure on your joints. What’s great about the Orbitrek MX and Orbitrek MN under the desk exercise bikes are that it gives you a great workout with barely any impact on your joints at all. So, you get all the benefits of running on a treadmill without worrying about jarring your joints.
The natural elliptical motion activates the muscles in your lower body. At the same time, as you move your feet, you’re also elevating your heart rate, giving you a gentle cardio workout that helps burn fat and calories. You can even change things up and switch from forward to backward pedaling to target specific muscles groups.
Even better, your Orbitrek MX or Orbitrek MN is whisper-quiet, meaning you can exercise at home in front of the TV without disturbing the person you’re sat with. Plus, it’s easy to move around, so when you’re done you can simply tuck it away in a corner for next time.
Find out how you can sit and get fit with the Orbitrek MX or Orbitrek MN.
