How do I know if I need to take a break during class?

Some discomfort with pulmonary rehabilitation is not uncommon. However, the most important thing is to maintain healthy oxygen levels when you are exercising. Sometimes you might feel breathless, but your oxygen levels are in a healthy range. A pulse oximeter can be a helpful and easy to use tool to determine whether you are getting enough oxygen during exercise.

If you are using a pulse oximeter: If your oxygen saturation drops below 90% during a Lift class, you should stop and rest until your oxygen levels raise back up to above 90%. We suggest using pursed lip breathing while resting. If your doctor has prescribed rescue medication, you should take it as prescribed. If symptoms persists for greater than 5 minutes while resting, we suggest that you call your doctor.

If you do not have a pulse oximeter: While we suggest having a pulse oximeter, if you do not have one, stop and rest when you feel symptoms. 

Symptoms could include:

• Dizziness
• Light-headedness
• Shortness of breath

With all Lift Classes, our trainers encourage you to listen to your body, slow down an exercise or take a break when you need to, and jump right back in once your body is ready.

As always, we encourage you to talk to your doctor prior to starting any exercise program, including Lift Pulmonary Rehab.