Beez Fit
Primary Market
Health, Occupational Therapy
Items Needed
1 Toobeez set
The Activity Time
30 minutes

Objectives

  • Increase physical activity levels
  • Provide opportunities for experiencing enjoyment
  • Gain an understanding of the benefits of physical activities
  • Increase strength, endurance and coordination
Activity Focus
Physical
The Challenge

Participants will experience a fitness program that is both beneficial and fun.

Preparation
Time1 minute

Materials

  • 1 Toobeez set

Setup

  • Provide each participate with either a Group Size: Small to 24” or 36”Toobeez.
Activity Plan

Group Size: Small to large group.

Time: 30 minutes

Space: Medium

Activity Instructions

1. Circle up the group.
Orient the participants to each other and open with a brief discussion on the benefits of maintaining physical activity as we age.

2. When the group is ready to begin the activity, share the following storyline.
There is a rumor going around that seniors are incapable of participating in any kind of a hysical workout program. It is also being said that seniors can not have fun and do not benefit from being active. Your group must dispel this myth. Are you up to it?

3. Read the Activity Challenge Box to the group.
Activity Challenge: Participants will experience a fitness program that is both beneficial and fun.

4. Have participants stand or sit in rows with the therapist or activity professional in the front of the room with his/her back to the participants.

5. Before beginning the Beez Fit workout, have participants warm up with the following exercises. Have the participants complete ten head rolls and ten shoulder shrugs. Conduct additional stretches as you see necessary.

6. Provide each participant with a Toobeez tube. The therapist or activity professional should also have a tube.

7. You can develop your own routine, but a workout might include some of the following exercises. Have participants repeat each selected exercise six times.
Overhead workout:

  • Have the participants hold the Toobeez tube over their heads with their handswide apart on the tube. Then, have the participants extend the tube behind their backs and then move the tube forward again.

Other Variation

  • Hold hands together on the tube
  • Hold hands apart on the tube and lean to both the left and right sides.
  • Hold hands apart and twist to the left and to the right

Arms workout:

  • Have the participants hold the Toobeez tube in front of them with their armsstraight out. Then have the participants roll the Toobeez in their hands forward and then backward
  • Have the participants hold the Toobeez tube in front of them with their armsstraight out. While still holding the tube out with extended arms, have the participants raise their arms over their heads and then bend down to their feet
  • Have the participants hold the Toobeez tube with their arms straight down. Thenhave the participants pull the tube up in front of them like a barbell curl
  • Have the participants stand with their arms straight out and their palms facing up. Have the participants place the Toobeez tube in their open palms and holdthis pose for ten seconds

Lower body workout:

  • Have the participants extend the Toobeez tube straight out in front of them andraise one leg to touch the Toobeez. Have the participants hold this pose for five seconds. Complete two sets of six for each leg. Therapist Note: Participants may need to hold on to the back of a chair for balance.
  • While standing, have the participants place the Toobeez tube behind their knee.Have the participants raise their leg while holding the Toobeez in place as if marching. Hold the Toobeez in place for the count of ten, and complete two sets of six for each leg.
  • While sitting in chairs, have the participants extend both their legs. Placethe Toobeez on top of their ankles. Have the participants hold this position for 20 seconds. Complete two sets of six.

8. Movements are endless. Toobeez can be incorporated into an existing exercise program or can be added as a new program, “Beez Fit,” which focuses on flexibility and endurance. A faster pace with livelier music may make this one of your most popular programs.

9. If your group is struggling, or if you feel your group would benefit from an additional challenge, present a variation provided below.

10. After the activity, move to the “Activity Discussion and Processing” section.

Here are the available Teambuilding Training Options.

Activity Variations

TooBeez11. Use the shorter Toobeez.
Develop routines working with the shorter Toobeez in pairs. In doing so, you are able to accommodate a much larger group.

2. Develop a chair exercise program.
Have the participants complete the same exercises, but have them seated in a chair.

Participants could also hold the back of the chair for safety.

2. Develop a chair exercise program.
Have the participants complete the same exercises, but have them seated in a chair. Participants could also hold the back of the chair for safety.

3. Develop a rhythm routine.
Work out to a song. Tap the Toobeez on the floor or hit each others’ Toobeez to develop a rhythm performance.

4. Attach a Theraband to Toobeez.
Tie a Theraband to the middle of the Toobeez and make a loop in the other end and wrap it around the shoe (as pictured at right). Do arm curls with the Toobeez.

Safety Reminders!

Appropriate caution is important to conduct these activities in a safe manner. Be sure to review these reminders prior to beginning the activity, and if necessary:

  • Make sure there is plenty of room between participants so they do not swing and hit one another with a Toobeez tube.
  • Remind participants to go at their own pace
  • Music from the participant’s era can be added for a more pleasurable experience

Helpful Hints
Music from the participant’s era can be added for a more pleasurable experience.

Activity Discussion and Processing

The effectiveness of the group process will often determine the outcome for the participant. These are only suggested questions to begin the discussion. Select the ones you feel will best benefit your group. Make sure to let everyone share their ideas, and remind participants that everyone’s feelings are important.Suggested questions for processing:

  • How did you feel when you heard we were going to exercise?
  • What did you learn about yourself?
  • How does working on strength and flexibility help you?
  • Can exercise be fun?
  • What are the benefits of staying active?
  • Is it ever too late to start a fitness program?
  • What are some goals you might try to increase your activity level?
Closing the Activity
Review the challenge of the group and summarize how the challenge was (or was not) achieved. Highlight the main contributions and resolve unfinished issues. Affirm their efforts for support and acceptance of each other’s feelings.
End with the following quote:“Believe in your limitations and sure enough they are yours.”
– Richard Bach
Vicky Pitner is the author of the Toobeez Senior Therapy Activity Workbook and the upcoming Toobeez Recreational Activity Workbook. Recreation Services provides therapeutic recreation consulting, program development, staff and respite training, inclusion training, and workshops.
All Activities of Vicky Pitner, CTRS

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