Not everyone is able to survive those long workouts, or go for jogs, or do calisthenics. Some of us are not built for such activities, be that because of health issues (my dad has a paralyzed diaphragm), body limitations (joint issues), or any other reasons.

What do you do then? Have a favorite activity that keeps you going? Or a special work out that's great for those who may not be able to do a "normal" work out?

Helpful links!
SIT AND BE FIT

Fun activities!
Yoga
Leisurely walks with dogs
Kinect/Wii games
Dancing (depends on the dance)
Weight lifting

A bit about the lazy cat.
I have joint issues (and I'm still young!) so I can't do high impact activities. BUT I also have a chemical hyper-sensitivity to Chlorine so I can't swim in most pools either. I'm beginning to take up Yoga because I still have most of my balance and flexibility left over from karate, and I like to go on short walks. Long walks, hikes, runs without braces and pain pills leaves me a crumpled pile of blah for a few days, so I try to do things in small amounts.
I would love to hear from other people who also do low-impact activities. :3

i walk Sashie-belle.....a lot!
i am not a runner
and have never experienced a 'runner's high'!

My Tubbs lives with my parents or I would walk her all the time... or just bring her to the field and play frizbee with her. XD

i can't get Sash to play frizbee
=(

I have a degenerated disc in my lower back which I found out about after hurting my back lifting 90 foot long carpets for a job. Apparently it runs on my father's side of the family.

I use to play DDR, run on the treadmill, play rugby etc. Now I can't without having my back hurting. Some days I even have trouble just walking up a fight of stairs.

Lately I've been trying to play my Kinect games and yoga. I really enjoy Kinect, it's a way of being active without feeling like exercise. Plus you don't have to go all out when playing because the senor can pick up your movements really well. You just look like you're crazy if someone walks into the room and doesn't realize you're playing video games :p

I'll have to try a few more of those games on the Wii. I've just been using the wii yoga so far.

I brought a bunch of exercise type games for my Wii. Just Dance, Zumba workout, DDR. My only problem with those games was that I would be doing the dance move but if I wasn't holding the wii mote in the exact position they required, I wouldn't get the points which really annoyed me to no end. Which is one of the main reasons I bought an Xbox 360. No controller, just your body and some space to play.

We have an old 360 I don't know if they're kinect compatible?

It should be Kinect compatible.

I have very weak wrists, so standard pushups hurts them long before I start to feel any burn in my biceps. So instead I stand a few steps away from a wall, put my hands on the wall shoulder-width apart, and then lean forward and use my arms to push me back. Wall push ups, essentially! They're not quite as demanding as regular push ups, so you need to do a bit more to get the same effect, but they don't murder your wrists. You can also do something similar on the edge of a dresser or counter to make it a bit tougher.

hummy does some weighs, too
nothing too big, just to keep muscles toned up

I do something similar when I'm at work in the register box. I'll lean back and slowly push off the box while I wait for customers. Keeps me awake during long shifts too!

how are you loving your job, by the way?

The really fun park ranger job is done. It was only a summer season thing. So I'm back to being a certified register monkey. :<

Park Ranger? I did that sort of job one year. I was a young Stewardship ranger one summer. It was tons of fun. Clearing trails of over hanging branches, making fish spawning habitats, etc.

I feel your pain about being a certified register monkey. People who do that job don't get paid enough for the crap they have to deal with.

Though I don't think I "have" to do low impact exercises (other than because I'm out of shape xD and not 8 yrs old any more lol), I do tend to do them (especially since exercises like Pilates are supposed to be good for flexibility) - things I do: Pilates (I have a Pilates book my Mother bought), yoga on the wii, stretching exercises because I have zero flexibility (cause I can never stick to it xD), I used to do ballroom dancing (I don't know whether that counts as low impact or not...probably depends on the dance), I sometimes ride my bike, go for walks around town, lift weights occasionally (to try an tone my arms).

On a side note: I have scoliosis, I do not tolerate heat well, I'm out of shape - so I don't always have the stamina for exercise but I tend to push myself anyway...lol

I'm looking into chair exercises for my Mother (such as an exercise series called "sit and be fit"), as she has pain/inflammation issues, hip pain, etc that makes it hard for her to go on walks, do yoga, Pilates, etc

i would love to try both of those, Gwena

Some of those sound like fun and not just "exercise". Ballroom dancing could be low-impact but I don't think Swing would be.

And what are these chair exercises you speak of? I like things that don't involve standing. XD

Originally Posted by ~LONGCAT~

I like things that don't involve standing. XD

Me too.

Sit and be fit: SIT AND BE FIT | Senior Fitness | Senior Exercise Television Program

I don't have any of the dvds (yet) but I've watched it on pbs and find it very interesting - most or all of the exercises are done seated in a chair. :) No standing, running, or walking involved, so it sounds really good for people who can't or just plain want to avoid those kinds of rigorous exercises.

Here's an amazon list: Amazon list

I don't own a car so I walk to work and to the grocery which are 30mins away from home. The summer time I can get away with running in spot but I can run on cement with out my knee throbbing. So it's either the grass or the carpet.

Gwena those look great for those of us who can't do high-impact things! *adds to list*
Neph, I wish I could run in spot or go for longer walks like that. :< But you're right, event the smallest of activities can help anyone out. :3