How a 1980s fitness routine became my ALS lifeline
I developed 'Move Along With Me' after being asked to recommend a fitness video
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Every day, I remind myself: Today, I need to keep moving.
Before my diagnosis of ALS, that was something I said to other people. As a wellness director, my job was to motivate others to bend, stretch, reach, and add movement into their daily lives. Now, the tables have turned. I am the one who needs to move, and one of the ways I do that is by practicing a simple chair exercise routine, one I created nearly 46 years ago.
How it all began
In 1980, a local hospital hired me to launch their brand-new wellness department. I knew it would be an uphill battle. Back then, wellness was a novel concept, and most people viewed exercise as a chore. To break the ice and introduce our programs to the hospital staff, I came up with a creative strategy.
A head nurse would alert me to the date and time of her department’s monthly meeting. Just as the meeting was winding down, I’d burst through the door with the enthusiasm of Richard Simmons. I’d set down my portable boom box, take a seat at the front of the room, press play on “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” and start pumping my arms to the beat. Grateful for the peppy music and a lively break from a routine meeting, the nurses always joined in.
It was a simple 10-minute sequence of easy arm and leg movements, all performed from a chair. As I explained our wellness services, I’d sprinkle in cheesy jokes. Reaching high before touching my knees, I’d deadpan, “This one prevents chest-of-drawers — you know, when your chest starts sinking into your drawers!”
Word spread quickly. Soon, I was getting invited to meetings across the community: sales teams, local PTAs, Rotary Clubs, senior centers, and even a law firm. Everyone wanted to experience “Dagmar’s Fun Fitness Break.”
One tough audience
My most memorable session was requested by our hospital administrator, a Catholic nun who decided her convent needed a dose of my routine.
When I arrived at the convent, I was ushered into a quiet room lined with heavy wooden chairs. Seated in each was an elderly nun dressed in a traditional full-black habit and veil. They greeted me with polite, reserved smiles. Intimidated by the solemn atmosphere, I swapped my usual upbeat track for a gentle big band medley and skipped the corny jokes. By the end of the session, the room was filled with warm smiles and lively chatter. Driving home, I breathed a massive sigh of relief.
Still sharing the fun
Fast-forward to my life with ALS. Facing the challenge of maintaining muscle tone while adapting to progressive physical changes, I remembered my long-forgotten chair routine. With a few modifications, it quickly became a core part of my daily therapeutic exercise.
A few years ago, a reader asked me to recommend a good adaptive fitness video. I searched, but everything fell short; some routines were too fast, others too slow, too long, or simply uninspiring. So, with my husband holding the camera steady, I recorded myself guiding the complete routine from my chair and uploaded it to YouTube. I titled it “Move Along.”
The response was positive, and I was grateful when ALS News Today highlighted the project. Though time has passed since that first upload, I am preparing to film a new series of videos soon.
Until then, I invite you to pull up a chair and join me. Let’s keep moving together and strive to live fully while living with ALS.
Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.
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