Help me please, what exercise can I try?

[PixieofCatan]

I have health issues which categorically stop me from running and cycling. Impact sports are completely out. I was a paddler but had to stop that too.

I have swimming lessons at the moment and I have a feeling that I'll have to stop doing that before long as my joints are getting more and more painful as I do it, I think due to the motion of moving my shoulders and knees/ankles. Yoga is the only other thing I can think of that might be okay but I'm extremely limited for time at the moment and can't really afford the time/money to have classes and get to them and it's not something I want to practice without classes first.

I have joint pain and fatigue (undergoing diagnosis for Fibro or CFS at the moment) and a chest joint/muscular problem which causes tightness and pain, the doctor suggested yoga and sod all else. There must be something else I can do that's more affordable/can be done at home or cheaply. So, any other suggestions? I'm at a loss at the moment.

Maybe Pilates? I prefer that to Yoga personally.

You can get DVDs but maybe worth having a few lessons so you know how to do it.

Tai Chi? Again you would need to go to classes to learn the sequences, but then could practice at home. However it might be too much strain on the knee joints as lots of standing with bent knees.

Sometimes you can find adult education courses for Tai Chi which are cheaper than gym style classes. Also online there is bound to be a basic sequence available.

Walking?

Walking. Do you live somewhere where you can walk somewhere nice? Don't underestimate the benefits. Best thing you can do until you can afford to add on the yoga .

I believe that there is something inherently therapeutic about walking, that it helps to maintain physical and mental health

I agree, without getting too woo, being out in nature is good for the soul .

I'm sure the movement massages the internal organs and the rhythmic nature of it generates endo cannabinoids or some such things.

That's not remotely woo now is it! :o

Sorry, I do walk already, knew I forgot something! I live in the south downs so go every few weeks, I can't do it that often though as hills are a problem so take it out of me! It's something I intend to do more of when my work hours do in July :)

Reduce in July, not do

Sorry to hear about your pain and fatigue.
Am I right in thinking you don't want to try yoga at all? I may have the wrong end of the stick, but....

If you can't afford a yoga class there are some YouTube tutorials. Failing that a book for beginners could help.
You can take it very easily and concentrate on whatever you choose or feel up to that day. Or when you're in the mood you can hold some poses and build muscle that will support your joints.
Just doing a calming breathing exercise in the toilet saved me from a meltdown (emotional!) yesterday.

I started by reading and trying it at home before I was brave enough for a class.

Have you asked to see a physio? With the fibro/cfs you have grounds to be referred and they could talk you through and show you how to do some exercises that stop you putting so much stress on your affected joints. I have EDS and my physio has been great, I even got some hydrotherapy that really helped :)

Wow: I can afford them but not right now, im paying for swimming classes at the moment as I thought I'd invest in those because it was something I was always told to do for joints, apparently not good though! But gutted by that as I love swimming. it's more time wise that I can't afford yoga at the moment (I'm working 6 days a week and to get to classes of need to get buses due to central location and parking fees, whereas my swimming pool has free parking and is on the outskirts of town late on a evening, so easy to get to). I'm really worried about doing Yoga incorrectly and potentially making my health worse so don't want to practice it without lessons first, iyswim? Which is why I'm waiting.

Unweaved: physio is on the cards, but not yet unfortunately. Have to wait for tests to come back and my appointment with the cfs clinic apparently. But then I haven't got the time to do it at the moment anyway so that's probably a good thing!

Thanks everyone so far :) added pilates and tai chi to my list of things to look into :)

Fair enough Pixie!
I loved Tai Chi when I did it. Hope you can get a good teacher and class. I learnt a lot from my teacher until he went back to China. I was actually upset as the other teacher was a bit rubbish in comparison.

I didn't mean for that to read as bag as it did, sorry was on my break and trying to get it out before I went back to work.

Thanks :) I did do a class or two ages ago but it clashed with work, I want a fan of the yoga teacher anyway. I will add this chi to my list when I get home in the morning :)