My Wheelchair Access

2011-11-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

YouTube video showing how I get in and out of the car from the wheelchair! Please watch the video and see how I get in and out the car. Because of the work and energy that goes into getting out of car, I have a 30 minute rule of time I need to be out and about. So a quick in and out doesn't work very well for me.

2011-09-27T14:55:00.000-05:00

Yoga

I attend a chair yoga class once a week in town. The instructors are physical therapist, whom have taken classes to learn chair yoga. The entire session is done sitting in a chair (wheelchair) using yoga movements. Breathing exercises is a big part of yoga and I have had huge benefits from learning how to breath correctly. Usually for me and many others the breathing is very short and quick, not filling up the lungs and breathing out the bad stuff. Lakshmi Voelker is the woman that created the yoga stretches and you can check out her dvd yourself. http://www.amazon.com/Lakshmi-Voelker-Chair-Yoga-Single/dp/B001403RR8/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1317153033&sr=1-1 Namaste

My Arms

2011-09-07T18:18:00.002-05:00

Lately when I see photos of me in short sleeves, my arms look so huge! I really hate looking at these photos because it makes me look so big overall. But, the other day when I was at Target, by myself, as I threw my wheelchair out of car I realized that I should love my arms. I needed to appreciate what my arms are able to do for me, they make me independent. So, they may not look really slim and beautiful, but they are so beautiful in a functional matter. Hating or disliking parts of our bodies are so unneeded!

The Reality!

2011-07-02T17:16:00.002-05:00

The reality of sitting in a wheelchair is realizing it is a chair which you sit on. The chair doesn't define who you are and who you will become. The chair just travels with you. True, the arms get tired of making every push to move the body around. But, for now and who knows maybe forever, the chair is only a chair with big wheels.

My beginning.

2010-09-16T10:25:00.002-05:00

What would I like to accomplish from a blog? A couple directions for writing on a blog would be: a daily diary of my life in a chair, or gathering information from various individuals who have a disability. Is there a way to do both and not sound negative or depressing. Most people have some kind of disability, but may not be as obvious. What exactly is a disability?

Wikipedia states: A disability may be physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these. I would venture to guess many people would fit under this umbrella of definition.

The interesting part is how we live with the disability. I think many times I live as a survivor, but also as the victim. Victim will jump in my life when "I feel sorry for myself." I read somewhere, the key is to live life to the fullest each day, not as a survivor or victim but as a human being with blessings and challenges.

Why Now?

2010-09-15T13:25:00.002-05:00

Sitting in this chair can be very frustrating at times. I would love to get up and run away from the chair. I had a hard summer with fighting infections resulting from a surgery. Everything takes so much more effort sitting in the chair. The ability to move around, exercise, and use less energy is desired.

Difficulties

2010-03-02T11:26:00.000-06:00

Working out on the rehab floor of my clinic/hospital can be difficult. There are many different levels of individuals striving to work on their new disability and I know how they feel. The energy it takes just to stand up and take a few steps is crazy. But, I would in a heartbeat use some of my energy to just stand and take a few steps. So, go world, keep moving as I will too!

Beginning of Wheelchairs

2010-02-26T15:51:00.001-06:00

Here is a story about the beginning of wheelchairs, interesting and enlightening.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/22329

I would love to get ideas from people with wheelchair access!

2010-02-26T15:19:00.001-06:00

I would love to gather information and photos on ways individuals cope and handle their wheelchairs. I think it would be interesting to read and see photos of how people get in and out of their wheelchairs and how to cope with day to day decisions.

I have been in a wheelchair for most of my last ten years and know that it would be awesome to get others' input on ways to maybe make life a little easier for me or someone else. It could also be informative for people working or training others with a wheelchair.

There are always different ways how to do transfers and other daily tasks. There are so many unknowns, so I would like to put some pieces together for me and anyone else interested.