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For health professionals

Yoga, Chair exercises click for details

  • SITTING (80%)

  • STANDING

  • SELF-MASSAGE

  • BED or FLOOR (includes guided relaxation)
Alleviate pain Oxygenate the blood Deepen respiration Purify the lymphatic system Invigorate the immune system Mobilize stiff muscles
Patient benefits ..

Gentle Fitness is a blend of gentle yoga with state-of-the-art exercise physiology and exercise kinesiology.

  • Improve daily function
  • Gain ROM, balance, emotional calm, vitality, confidence and independence.
  • Sleep better, look better, cope easier, keep medication to a minimum -  naturally.
  • Learn therapeutic, pursed-lip breathing (recommended for people w/ weakened vital capacity, such as COPD patients.)
  • Benefit from superbly integrated and instructed body mechanics.
  • Patients enjoy from this therapeutic, effective and fun program.

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History of Gentle Fitness
 Gentle Fitness is a holistic program in every sense of the word. It was developed to address the physical, psychological and emotional needs of viewers.

As I write this in 2012, I have had MS for 50 years. After an especially rough decade from age 35 to 45, I wanted to explore the making of a video that people could use at home, based on what I had done to help me manage, mature and to stay in control of my MS. I made Gentle Fitness from that life experience .. and from my love of teaching.

Making Gentle Fitness has been an amazing journey. The time, expense and commitment for a project of this kind was more intense than I could have ever imagined! Having been able to complete a program with the integrity and life of this video-turned-DVD has kept me going, long after I thought I couldn't!

I have heartfelt gratefulness to more people than could possibly be named in this space. At the close of Gentle Fitness I am proud to be able to list each "participant" and each "Advisory Board professional". There is a powerful final segment to the program called Meet the Participants. It should be seen be everyone who is healing, or who is a healer.

People from the four corners of the globe have told me in their phone calls, e-mails, and letters that Gentle Fitness gives them dignity, calm, and comfort. They tell me, in glowing words how the movements and stretches help them feel better! And they just know they've done something smart for themselves.

It has won awards over the years. One was the recognition of the American Medical Association's International Health and Medical Film Competition. That's the 'Oscar', the highest honor for health-related film on any subject. One year, Christopher Reeves was honored by that academy. Another year, Mary Tyler Moore was chosen. Magic Johnson is another recipient of the Freddie Award. The year Gentle Fitness won, the 2nd and 3rd place awards went to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Kaiser Permanente. I was (am) deeply honored!

World wide use:
The program is used by people in over 40 countries! Thousands of people use Gentle Fitness year after year - many have worn out their original videos and have gratefully purchased the better technology of the DVD. People in their own homes just keep using it. What better testimony? A video that sits on the bookshelf does no good. They really do use it. Groups at community, senior and hospital wellness centers have had Gentle Fitness on their schedules - without pause - for 10 years and more.

There is magic in the wonderful people who are in the program with me. The easy-to-follow movements and stretches flow one to the next. Viewers enjoy the smiles of all, the music, the beauty of the graphics and the many inspirational panels that tick along through the 90-minute program - these are some of the qualities that will keep your patients using and benefiting from the Gentle Fitness DVD.

Gentle Fitness is not perky or peppy. Neither is it patronizing. It uses the wisdom of the ancient healing arts of Yoga and T'ai Chi. The body mechanics are cued for maximum health benefits and for safety. Using state-of-the-art exercise kinesiology and exercise physiology, the program leads viewers through 113 whole mind / whole body movements and stretches to:

  • strengthen inner core muscles

  • oxygenate the blood

  • deepen respiration

  • invigorate the immune and lymphatic systems

  • mobilize stiff muscles

  • alleviate pain

I can be reached by email here. Write anytime! Catherine                                                                                          Back to top

Gentle Fitness was made by Catherine MacRae and a team of 11 physical, occupational & respiratory therapists. All names are listed in the DVD.

"Catherine is so clear and easy-to-follow. She is wonderful!"
  She seamlessly blends the wisdom of yoga, t'ai chi & Feldenkrais movement awareness with today's state-of-the-art exercise physiology and exercise kinesiology, leading viewers through movements and stretches that are easy, natural and therapeutic.

  Ms. MacRae is a fitness expert and a superb teacher. She also happens to have multiple sclerosis. Click here for more about Catherine.

  Refer Gentle Fitness to your patients.

 

Pursed Lip Breathing - For improved stamina ...
What is it? How to Use it?