BLF Active is an exercise class for people with lung disease run by an instructor with specialist respiratory training. The British Lung Foundation have received a donation from Air Products to train Fitness Instructors in Chronic Respiratory Disease Exercise at Loughborough College in order to increase access to exercise classes for people living with a lung condition.
The BLF will offer bursaries to Fitness Instructors taking the qualification on the understanding that they will then set up BLF Active exercise classes in their local community. Where there is a Breathe Easy group the fitness instructor will work with them to set up a class.
BLF Active classes are not a substitute for pulmonary rehabilitation but should be viewed as complimentary to it.
What exactly are BLF Active classes?
How can BLF Active help you?
What should you do if you are interested in taking part in a BLF Active class?
What should you do if you are interested in setting up a BLF Active class?
The classes involve exercise in a structured class overseen by qualified trainers who have attended and passed the Chronic Respiratory Disease Exercise Instructor Course and then go on to work with their local Breathe Easy Group.
Instructors will be Reps (Register of Exercise Professionals) registered which means that instructors possess the relevant knowledge and qualifications for safe and effective exercise. In many cases instructors may already be working with vulnerable groups such as heart patients, the elderly and those prescribed exercise by their GP’s.
BLF Active is the result of a six month pilot project in which 225 people were involved in exercise in 10 different locations across England. Results were overwhelmingly positive showing improvements in people’s ability to walk further and being less depressed and anxious. People involved in the pilot say they are now more active and that’s it has given them much more confidence.
Getting out of breath can be frightening which makes breathlessness worse. In trying to avoid this people often reduce the amount of activity they do. However this does not help as over time patients become more unfit, tired and breathless. By taking regular supervised exercise and increasing muscle strength and tone, people may find breathlessness reduced when carrying out daily living activity.
If you are already an active member of a
Breathe Easy group then ask your development officer about whether Fitness Instructors from your area are going on the course.
Alternatively if you are already attending an exercise class and your instructor would like to do the course, or you are not an active Breathe Easy member or you would just like more information please Danielle Smreczak, the BLF Exercise Co-ordinator, or call her on 020 7688 5618.
Again, Danielle Smreczak or call her on 020 7688 5618.
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