Walker workout.

I have discovered that a walker with a lightweight frame can be very versatile: it has become a very important piece of exercise equipment.

I use the walker to stabilize my body so I can do calf lifts, calf stretches, and gentle deep knee bends. It enables me to stand erect, weight shifting from right to left leg.

Sitting upright in a chair, with my hands resting on the walker for balance, I tighten my abs. Again, using the walker to maintain balance, I bounce up and down on a physiotherapy ball for well over an hour, which increases my heart rate, providing cardiovascular conditioning. M1 of these exercises are also weight bearing, which strengthens my bones.

When I exercise on the ball or in a chair, I squeeze a yoga block between my thighs to maintain correct postural alignment.

Nancy Chamberlayne, MEd, via e-mail