{"id":583883,"date":"2026-08-05T11:22:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T11:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/583883\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T11:22:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T11:22:22","slug":"miranda-hart-53-says-these-2-low-impact-exercises-are-helping-her-rebuild-fitness-after-chronic-illness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/583883\/","title":{"rendered":"Miranda Hart, 53, says these 2 low-impact exercises are helping her rebuild fitness after chronic illness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Miranda Hart has been busy making us laugh for decades, but in recent years, she\u2019s revealed how her health deteriorated after wrapping her hugely popular sitcom Miranda in 2015. <\/p>\n

Following years of searching for answers, in 2020, Miranda was diagnosed with reactivated Lyme disease<\/a> \u2013 the expected root cause of her myalgic encephalomyelitis\/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME\/CFS), which she\u2019d already received a diagnosis for.<\/p>\n

And with movement having always been an integral part of her life, Miranda has discussed how being \u2018housebound and bedbound\u2019 by chronic illness was made even more difficult by not being able to exercise and spend time in nature. <\/p>\n

\u2018It feels like such an inherent part of who I am. I love that movement, that energy, the connection with team sports,\u2019 she revealed<\/a> on Elizabeth Day\u2019s How To Fail podcast, when discussing her talents as a youngster in lacrosse, tennis and sprinting. \u2018I just wanted to be a professional athlete.\u2019<\/p>\n

How Miranda used movement to rebuild trust in her body<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019ve always loved the Great Outdoors \u2013 it\u2019s the most wonderful playground, isn\u2019t it?\u2019 Miranda said on Woman\u2019s Hour last year. \u2018When I became ill and was bedbound and housebound on and off for many years, suddenly my beautiful playground that brought me peace and regulation and excitement was no longer there, so I now have an even deeper respect and love for it because I lost it for a few years.\u2019<\/p>\n

During this time, Miranda said she turned to visualising herself exercising after reading some \u2018extraordinary research\u2019 on how it can help the body. She thinks it did help in her case.
<\/p>\n

Walking <\/p>\n

But it was walking<\/a> that Miranda says really helped her heal and build ‘a sort of mind-body connection of me trusting my own body again’.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was really walking and getting out in my mum’s garden and just taking very small steps \u2013 literally and metaphorically \u2013 that really did help my fatigue-based illness,\u2019 she told Woman\u2019s Hour.<\/p>\n

Miranda added that walking barefoot<\/a> on the grass also helped her to regulate her nervous system. And while she wasn\u2019t yet ready for \u2018cardio power walks\u2019 then, doing slow-paced, 20-minute walks around a field \u2013 where she discovered something new every day \u2013 helped calm her \u2018busy mind\u2019. <\/p>\n

Research has suggested that barefoot walking can have both cognitive and physiological benefits. One narrative review<\/a> noted that barefoot walking \u2018offers additional sensory input, which is beneficial for balance<\/a> and gait stability\u2019 and is \u2018linked with improving attention and working memory\u2019. <\/p>\n

And while power walking<\/a> is great for cardiovascular fitness, slower-paced walking also has a range of benefits, especially when combined with the mindfulness of being out in nature. <\/p>\n

Indeed, one study<\/a> found that mindful walking (which involved participants paying attention to their body\u2019s movements and the environment around them) outdoors \u2013 both in nature and urban environments \u2013 improved mood and sleep quality. <\/p>\n

Cycling <\/p>\n

Recently, Miranda has also shared on social media that she\u2019s been cycling, too. <\/p>\n

\"mirandaInstagram \/ @realmirandahart<\/p>\n

Miranda recently revealed she’s also been using cycling for recovery<\/p>\n

\u2018Exercising after long-term chronic illness has been quite the thing. I missed exercise so much. Me and my body love it. That\u2019s not sarcastic \u2013 many people assume I don\u2019t like it but [I] love sport. The bike has been great for the next stage of recovery,\u2019 she wrote on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Low-impact and incredibly effective for cardio fitness, studies have found cycling to be hugely beneficial for different areas of health. <\/p>\n

In one study<\/a>, researchers found that amateur cyclists\u2019 immune systems appeared not to have aged. <\/p>\n

Another study<\/a> found that people who cycled to work had a 47% lower risk of death from any cause compared with non-active commuters, while this paper<\/a> found that women who performed highly on maximal cycling tests had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia. <\/p>\n

And as Miranda herself might put it, compared with a lot of other workouts, cycling<\/a> can be Such Fun!<\/p>\n

One of our most frequently asked questions here at Women\u2019s Health? How to build muscle and burn fat at the same time. So, we asked superstar trainer Oyinda Okunowo<\/a> exactly how to do it. In this 4-week plan \u2013 created exclusively for Women\u2019s Health COLLECTIVE members \u2013 you\u2019ll get the workouts and nutrition guidance needed to help you on your way to better body composition. Tap the link below to unlock 14 days of free access to Oyinda’s plan and start training today.<\/p>\n

Get the plan<\/a><\/p>\n

\"oyinda<\/a>\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Hannah Bradfield is a Senior Health and Fitness Writer for Women\u2019s Health UK. An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Hannah graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in English and Sport Science and an MA in Media and Cultural Analysis. \u00a0She has been covering sports, health and fitness for the last five years and has created content for outlets including BBC Sport, BBC Sounds, Runner\u2019s World and Stylist. She especially enjoys interviewing those working within the community to improve access to sport, exercise and wellness. Hannah is a 2024 John Schofield Trust Fellow and was also named a 2022 Rising Star in Journalism by The Printing Charity. \u00a0A keen runner, Hannah was firmly a sprinter growing up (also dabbling in long jump) but has since transitioned to longer-distance running. While 10K is her favoured race distance, she loves running or volunteering at parkrun every Saturday, followed, of course, by pastries. She\u2019s always looking for fun new runs and races to do and brunch spots to try.<\/p>\n