recovery | The Health Sessions

10 Outdoor Exercises for All Fitness Levels

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Would you love to improve your fitness, strength and flexibility too? Depending on where you live, late Spring to early Autumn can be a great time to naturally get your outdoor exercise in – even if you’re chronically ill.

Compared to working out in the gym, outdoor exercising has some unique benefits. Not only are you moving your body, but safely exposing yourself to sunshine supports the production of vitamin D, necessary for strong bones and good mental health. What’s more, catching natural daylight – especially in the morning – fine tunes your internal body clock and helps you sleep better at night. Spending time in nature also lowers your blood pressure, boosts your immunity and eases mental fatigue. And of course, getting some fresh air cleans your lungs and energizes you.

The great news is, you don’t have to be super fit and athletic to get these health perks. You can adapt outdoor exercises for most energy levels. Sure, you won’t be able to go on a hike when you’re bed bound, and there are obstacles to overcome when exercising with chronic illness. You need to plan for rest afterwards and recovery days. You probably have to be more mindful about the heat and staying hydrated. Maybe you have to rely on mobility aids or practical support from family and friends.

A lot of what’s possible for you depends on your health, living situation and overall mobility. Not all the ideas mentioned will be doable for every body. Just take inspiration from the outdoor exercises below, adapt where necessary and listen to your body. And it’s always wise to consult your doctor before starting exercising again.

With these notes in mind, take a look at these 10 spoonie-proof ways to move your body outdoors.

Nature Therapy: How to Get in 120 Minutes of Outdoor Time with Chronic Illness

Thanks to COVID-19, spending time outdoors has been more popular than ever this past year. Many of us took up outdoor activities and camping, or even went all-in with the 1000 hours outside challenge or the Nordic concept of open-air living. But there are lots of reasons why we should keep this ‘trend’ going, even – or especially! – if you’re chronically ill.

How to Fully Engage Your Senses to Promote Healing | The Health Sessions

23 Ways You Can Engage Your Five Senses for Healing

All day long, your five senses pick up sounds and smells, feel the sun on your skin and distinguish beautiful colors around you. You’re probably not even aware of this, until bright lights or loud music make you want to cover your eyes or ears.

When you’re living with chronic illness, chances are, you’re no stranger to sensory overload. In that case, your brain receives more input from your senses than it can process and organize, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, tired and brain fogged. But did you know that you can also ‘hack’ your senses to drastically improve your overall wellbeing?

Take a look at why engaging your five senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch – supports your health and happiness.

How to Improve Recall: 5 Techniques to Rebuild Your Memory

This article is written by dr. Upasana Gala.

Where did I put my keys? What did the doctor say about these meds? What’s the name of that therapist again?

Chronic illness can often be accompanied by cognitive issues. For people dealing with chronic conditions, problems with memory are not only a matter of forgetting anniversaries or details from the past. Memory problems coupled with chronic illness can be a recurring issue as you go about your daily routines, affecting your overall health and quality of life.

The thing is, memories evolve. When the brain attempts to rebuild memories each time a person tries to recall something, it stores them again for future use. This is where things get mixed up, according to research.

Still, you have to know that there are ways you can improve your brain’s ability for recall. While there may be no guarantee of preventing dementia or memory loss, at least you’ll have a better chance of rebuilding your memory with the following five techniques.

Do-It-Yourself: 10 Home Remedies for Minor Health Problems | The Health Sessions

10 DIY Natural Remedies to Ease Everyday Symptoms

It’s that time of year again: the start of cold and flu season.

Fortunately, most minor ailments will heal naturally after a few days, especially with the help of enough rest and fluids. But when you find yourself sniffing, sneezing and coughing all day, DIY home remedies can provide some much-needed relief. Natural ingredients like eucalyptus can help you breathe easier, whereas the scent of lavender is known for its relaxing effects.

What’s more, if you’re living with chronic health problems, you probably search for ways to manage common symptoms, like nagging pain and insomnia. And let’s not forget that tonics with health-boosting foods like ginger, ginseng and elderberry can support your immune system.

Obviously, home remedies are only suitable for minor health problems, preferably with a known or obvious cause like a virus or underlying, stable chronic condition.

And please keep in mind that ‘natural’ does not automatically mean a remedy is healthy and safe. Also, don’t diagnose and treat yourself based on online advice alone. When you’re experiencing health problems and/or your symptoms worsen, please always check with your doctor or other medical professionals what the right course of action is for you.

Having said that; if you’re looking for natural ways to ease a cold, relax your muscles or fall asleep faster, check out these 11 DIY natural remedies from around the web.