COPD Exercises

A COPD Forum favorite, Functional Fitness for COPD and Asthma is an original exercise video created by occupational therapist Suzanne Andrews that focuses on improving your breathing, relieving your stress and increasing your quality of life as you learn to live with COPD.

Catherine MacRae created this award-winning video that comes with a free 20-page Guide to Exercise. This exercise video blends the movements of Yoga, Tai Chi and Feldenkrais with the science of exercise. It includes six short routines: four sitting, one standing and one lying, and in total is 90 minutes long.

Created by a physical therapist, this DVD consists of exercises done from either a seated or standing position. It includes instructions for safely getting down and then back up from the floor to avoid injury, and suggestions for a number of bed exercises. Explanations of anatomy, breathing technique and spine positioning precede the workout.

Yoga instructor Pat Laster makes yoga come to life through this DVD of simple postures and gentle stretches. Yoga helps muscles and joints gradually regain their strength and increases flexibility, ultimately improving mobility. And, because so much focus is on the breath, it is a perfect activity for people with COPD to help them manage their breathing.

Not just your average yoga DVD, Stronger Seniors is a four-star exercise program developed by Anne Burnell, continuing education provider for older adult populations for the American Council on Exercise. This yoga chair exercise program will help you increase your  strength and flexibility, all in the comfort of your own living room. Great for people who have limited mobility and those in wheelchairs or who use walkers.

Zookinesis is an ancient Chinese exercise system designed to bring your body back to its youthful vitality while restoring muscle tone, strength and flexibility. It also helps improve breathing and concentration. Zookinesis is related to T'ai-chi, Chi-gung and Chinese Yoga. You can start small and do just fifteen minutes at a time working your way up to do the entire session. This DVD is used by countless numbers of senior centers and nursing homes across the country.

The Chair-A-Cise Series fitness program is a program for everybody. It helps you lose weight, burn fat, tone and improve your strength while providing you with an excellent cardiovascular workout. And, this is all while sitting in a chair! Under the guidance of certified personal trainer and Chair-A-Cise creator Daryl Madison of Lifestyle Fitness, you can complete a safe and effective workout in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

T'ai chi is an ancient Chinese exercise system that is designed to improve your overall health, reduce stress, strengthen muscles and joints, build the immune system, improve balance and coordination and maintain the vitality of youth throughout the life-span. In either DVD or VHS format, many of these exercises can be done from a seated position and the program is specifically designed for people over 65 years of age.

For those of you who want a more challenging workout, the Go-Fit Exercise Ball and Workout Chart may be just what you are looking for. This unique exercise ball will help you stretch, tone and tighten your body. The program comes with a ball pump, 2 ball plugs and an easy-to-follow exercise wall poster. The balls come in different sizes to accommodate a variety of heights.