6 online workouts for people with disabilities, from adaptive yoga to seated strength training

Here's how people with physical and intellectual disabilities can keep up their fitness levels while staying at home

Adaptive yoga lessons and seated workouts are available online. Getty Images

The internet has been infiltrated by online workouts en masse amid the coronavirus pandemic. No matter what type of exercise you're looking to do, there's either a pre-recorded session you can watch or live-stream class you can join.

But the options for people with physical and intellectual disabilities are few and far between.

Here's a list of options that offer seated workouts and adaptations, so everyone can keep fit and healthy while staying at home.

Just make sure you get the all-clear from your licensed healthcare professional before embarking on any workout programme.

1. Adaptive Yoga Live

This British initiative was launched this week specifically for the disabled community to help combat stress during the Covid-19 crisis.

It offers seated yoga classes for people with physical limitations, particularly those with injury, disabilities and the elderly.

It was created by Miranda McCarthy and Louise Edwards, two women with disabilities who have had their lives changed thanks to adaptive yoga.

You can watch the live classes completely free of charge on the website or across social media channels. These take place on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday at 6pm UAE time.

For now, the classes will run for six weeks, but if they're successful, they will go on for longer.

Melisa Zoe Kumaramangalam, for one, is a happy customer. She said in testimonial for the website: "I have cerebral palsy and Adaptive Yoga has helped reduce spasms in my legs. It has also helped me improve my balance."

For more information, visit www.adaptiveyogalive.com

2. Special Olympics

The organisation behind the Special Olympics World Games has created a couple of video series for people with disabilities to move along to. These focus on those with more mobility, however.

The Fit5 Workout Series Workouts, for example, allow people to train in three categories: endurance, strength and flexibility. Each of these workouts have five levels and the videos run between two to six minutes.

Then there's the School of Strength, which features WWE star Becky Lynch. These workouts can be done five times a week in order to help you reach your athletic goals. Watch them in order, starting with video one, and only move on once you've mastered the exercise.

3. The MS Society

Personal trainer Dom Thorpe has created a number of workouts for the UK's MS Society website, specifically designed for people with multiple sclerosis.

There are tailored video playlists for people with different levels of mobility, whether you use a wheelchair, have trouble walking or can engage in more movement and cardio-based exercises.

For more information, visit www.mssociety.org.uk

4. Dom Thorpe Online Fitness

The trainer from the MS Society video workout series also has his own company, offering personal fitness training to people with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

Thorpe lives in England, but he offers a range of online fitness training programmes and coaching. He also recently started posting to his own YouTube channel.

Sign up for his newsletter to receive all the latest home workout videos he posts. On this page of his website, he's also listed his top 10 exercises for people with disabilities to try, complete with video tutorials.

For more information, visit www.dt-training.co.uk

5. National Health Service

The UK's NHS has created a five-week plan of equipment-free exercises that it recommends for people with disabilities.

These come in the form of weekly podcasts designed to improve strength and flexibility, with easy-to-follow instructions that ensure you do each exercise correctly.

They feature full-body workouts, as well as how-to video clips, and can be done anywhere, at any time, as long as you have enough space to move about freely. You'll also need a bench or wall, and either shoulder-height railings or horizontal bar.

For more information, visit www.nhs.co.uk

6. Kym NonStop

The American Amazing Race contestant, bike racer and trainer has quite a few videos for people with limited mobility on her YouTube channel.

This includes a challenging seated workout for those in wheelchairs, amputees and other differently-abled people.

She created this when she was recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery, so it's also great for people who have injuries.

For her full Limited Mobility playlist, click here