As a Certified Personal Trainer, and Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher, I began working with clients with Parkinson's Disease (P.D.) about three years ago. I teach a yoga class just for people with P.D. as well as work one-on-one.  This continues to be a wonderful experience for me and I have witnessed a lot of positive changes in people's mobility, stability, posture, and attitude.

The symptoms of P.D. are varied, but often lead to a reduction of strength, balance, flexibility, and proper lung function. This, in turn, may lead to inactivity, lethargy, isolation, fear, and depression. These symptoms may be positively affected by participating in classes offering balance work, strength training, and yoga. One-on-one work with a qualified practitioner can also be very helpful.  Meeting in a group setting can be very motivating, offering an opportunity for socialization as well as comradery camaraderie. Working one on one with a practitioner can better address the specific needs of the client. The two most important things are for the client with P. D. to feel like he or she is taking an active part in his or her health, and is doing so in a safe environment.

Research has identified the many positive benefits of exercise and proper hydration. An important factor is exercise helps the brain produce dopamine, a naturally occurring chemical in the brain lacking in people with P. D.. Slowing down and deepening the breath (yogic breathing) actually calms the nervous system. This may help to reduce and sometime temporarily eliminate tremors, and relaxes rigid muscles. Yogic breathing can also help improve lung function.Working on all the joints in the body to improve range of motion helps with general mobility and the ability to perform daily fine motor tasks like buttoning a shirt. Proper hydration can help with many of the symptoms of P. D. like dry skin, dry eyes, constipation, and is an important part of any exercise program.

Another overxall benefit I have seen is the increase in body awareness in my clients. Practicing being more mindful, not just during exercise but in your daily life can also help that "good feeling" clients get after exercising, to linger. Encouraging practicing the practice of a few simple things at home helps to further develop the clients sense of being in charge of his or her own body, a feeling that is very hard to maintain with such a condition.

In summary, the combination of working on joint range of motion, muscle strengthening and stretching, proper hydration and yogic breathing practiced on a regular basis has helped many people enjoy a better quality of life. "If you don't use it, you lose it" is a very true statement, and not just for people with P. D. that goes for everyone!  So get moving!

Here are some comments made by P. D. clients I have worked with.:

"I feel more confident when I'm walking, not as afraid of falling".

"I can move around much better"

"I feel loser and lighter"

"I can go up and down the stairs so much easier now"

Elizabeth Burd is a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher at Natural Fitness in Falmouth and teaches the Yoga for Parkinson's class through Maine Medical Center.

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