Joining an Exercise Class

With just a little planning, group exercise classes can be the perfect way to stay healthy and have a great time, no matter your level of vision.

To get started, it’s always a great idea to talk with your eye doctor when you make any new exercise plans. One good thing to talk about is whether you might want to avoid any specific activities—for example, sports that could cause bumps or injuries to the head. For some people, heavy lifting or straining could be a concern.

If you’re looking for a local fitness center to join, ask for recommendations among your friends and family members. They can help you tour the space before you decide to sign up, and point out things you might not notice, to see whether it offers what you’re looking for.

During your visit, you can ask the staff whether a sighted guide or an extra staff member could join you in class the first few times, to help you learn about the moves and equipment. Of course, if your friend wants to join the class with you, that’s great, too.

Once you’ve decided which classes you want to take, if you talk with your instructor ahead of time, it’ll be a big help.

You can talk about how the class works—such as how people set up their space and whether you’ll be moving around the room. You can also talk about your fitness goals, and any limitations or specific needs you might have.

For example, do you already know how to use the equipment? Or will you need to learn about it before the class begins? And do you need to be in the front row with clear view of the teacher? Or would you rather be off to the side, or close to an overhead speaker?

Try meeting with the teacher in person—outside of class—and learn about the movements and routines. Instructors are trained to help you get the most out of your workout, and to make sure that your posture and stance are correct, to avoid strain.

Plus, teachers are always happy to help you modify an exercise. They can describe moves with less impact or jumping, or how to do an exercise in place rather than moving around the room.

If you’re new to a certain type of workout, ask the instructor about the words and phrases they use, including the cues to tell you what movement is next and when to change. That way, when you hear the cues in class, you’ll understand what they mean.

Let the instructor know that you need clear, spoken instructions for every move, to follow along. But remember that some instructors might be easier to follow than others. If you have the chance, try a couple different classes and teachers, so you can find out which ones work best for you.

Now, let’s get to that workout. If you’re in a class that uses equipment—such as a mat or a step, stretch bands or weights—it’s a good idea to arrive early and gather everything you need before class begins. Find a space in the room that works best for you and set up the gear you need.

If you need a little help with balance, set up near a wall or a counter that you can touch or hold on to. And here’s another tip to help with balance. Teachers often tell students to focus their gaze on a specific spot during a tricky balance posture—but you can also practice by focusing on a specific sound.

Some classes use equipment that keeps you in one place, like spinning or yoga. But for other classes, it might be helpful to mark off your space, to make sure you have plenty of room to move. Try using a mat, carpet square, a hula hoop, or a chair.

When you’re picking out your equipment, items with bright colors or contrast are easier to see. And if you're bringing your own equipment from home, you can always label it with bright, contrasting tape.

Setting out your equipment the same way, every time, helps you find what you need. And it can help you stay oriented to face the front of the room.

Another way you can easily tell what direction you’re facing is by bringing your own yoga mat, marked with bright, contrasting tape, strips of hot glue, or the loop side of Velcro pieces. By placing these textured materials along one edge of your mat, you can easily reach out to check your location and direction.

As always, if you need more information or you've got your own tips to share, contact a Hadley learning expert. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice, and you'll get there.