Summarize this article in one sentence.
During exercise, the surrounding environment should be calm and devoid of noise or distractions. There should be no disturbances and the environment should be pleasant.  Also, there should be no crowds nearby, because this can make autistic individuals confused and worried. A natural environment with plants, greenery and fresh air works best. Instead of giving verbal instructions, it is better to give visual guidelines like pictures, videos, or images. Some autistic people get confused by spoken directions. However, they can easily understand instructions if provided with pictorial aids. For example, if you're going to play basketball with your loved one, show her TV programs or videos of people playing the game. Providing encouragement may be the most important aspect of your efforts. Get excited about exercise together. The best way you can encourage them is leading by example, getting involved in exercise and making it clear how much you enjoy it.  It may not seem fair to push your autistic family member to exercise, if you don't. Demonstrate the activity, showing how fun it is, and then let them try. Feeling encouraged yourself is a great start. Find out what kind of physical activity interests them. Many autistic people will be very open and enthusiastic about their specific interests, so maybe you can find a way to encourage them through their main interest.  Perhaps they enjoy watching sports on television, and you can get them involved in a safe, no-contact version in a sports program. Certain exercise programs or sports may build on their interests, and lead to the development of other exercise and fitness goals. If you have fun with them and congratulate them on doing something good for their health, they'll feel positively about the experience, and want to do it again.  Similarly, if the exercise is done incorrectly, gently show them the correct way to perform the exercise. If they didn't like it, tell them that it's okay, and you can try a different type of exercise the next time. Many caretakers have introduce their loved ones to the Special Olympics, which can be another way to encourage them. If they find a sport they love, they could even work towards a goal of competing in the Special Olympics.  Exposing autistic individuals to the Special Olympics shows them that there are successful athletes who are like them. If they look up to a particular athlete, they may be more likely to give a specific sport a try. Networking with other autistic/disabled people may also be encouraging to them. This exercise needs to be fun and exciting for it to really catch on.  Perhaps you can involve the whole family, taking a nice hike. This could be incorporated into a science lesson, exploring nature while you hike as a family. Plenty of autistic people love music, so try dancing to some of their favorite songs to encourage exercise. There are a variety of ways you can introduce dancing into the life of your loved one.  Wii Fit provides various games that can be played in the home. This provides a comfortable, familiar environment where sensory stimuli can be safely limited. 'Just Dance' is a popular dance game, providing a fun exercise option. Check out Dance Dance Revolution games for a popular interactive dance experience. If you can make exercise seem like something that is a blast to do, your autistic friend will be far less reluctant to participate. There are many ways to make exercise fun.  Turn exercise into a game, once again making sure it's something they're passionate about. Perhaps put an exercise video on and get involved. It may have fun music involved, making it seem less forceful. For anxious or sensitive autistic people, stick with collaborative activities, because competition may make them nervous. Martial arts requires individuals to follow clear rules, be consistent, and display discipline. This ties into the natural strengths that accompany autism, and the mastery may build their self-esteem. They also tend to do quite well based on the environment and rules. For example, after taking a half-hour walk with the autistic person, turn on the TV until suppertime. This will give them something to look forward to once it's done. This is a step-learning method in which you teach a physical activity by fully assisting the movement at first, and gradually reducing your assistance until independence is achieved. For example, to help someone learn to catch a ball, hold their hands in your hands and help him catch the ball/racket. Then, hold the wrist, then the arm, then just the shoulder. Fading will occur when you don't hold anything anymore.
Make sure the exercise environment is calm and natural. Try giving visual instructions to promote learning. Provide lots of encouragement to create a supportive environment. Figure out their passions to make exercise seem fun. Make sure to give immediate feedback to create a sense of accomplishment. Get involved in the Special Olympics to provide a competitive outlet. Adapt outings into your family routines. Encourage dancing to have fun while exercising. Make exercise fun to reduce a loved one's hesitation. Try martial arts to encourage exercise that promotes discipline and focus. Incorporate a reward into your routine. Try prompting and fading to help your loved one learn a skill, particularly if they're young or especially challenged.