Volume 1, Issue 3 - September 2022

For people with Parkinson's disease and those who love them!

Parkinson's does not define you, it's simply a condition that you're living with and need to make adjustments for, to maintain best quality of life. Although this may not be easy "to change" it is incredibly worth it and helps to stave off motor and non-motor symptoms of the condition.

This client was recently diagnosed and had the courage and fortitude to jump right into a new exercise training regimen. With Pilates 4 Parkinson's we work with these very EARLY stage clients in what's called "The BIG PUSH". The P4P formats for Stage 1/EARLY PD are very aggressive and meant to be somewhat jarring to the nervous system to wake up old neural pathways quickly and start building new ones - building Neuroplasticity. According to research studies, in early stage PD, the brain still has the ability to form new neural pathways. We take full advantage of this and PUSH to build as much new exposure to various training surfaces, training props (like the magic circle this client is using for the first time in the video clip exercise), skilled and aerobic movements, cognitive exercises paired with exercise, and multi-planar training involving a lot of balancing exercises.

This client trains 2x weekly with us. Further, she walks daily and incorporates vigorous exercise 3x/week on her own. She has increased her water intake to almost 1 gallon daily, she has modified her nutrition to add in more beneficial foods and supplements, while cutting out foods that are not as nutritious or contain harmful ingredients. That does not mean that she has given up wine or coffee or sugar! that means she has chosen to adjust accordingly her consumption to what she feels is enjoyable, but not detracting from her overall goal of maintaining optimal health.

It's working! On a recent visit back from the neurologist, he was amazed at her optimal health, physical ability, and overall wellbeing. He noted based on his best estimates and experience, that if she continued along like this she could attenuate disease progression for the next 10-15 years. THIS IS PROGRESS! Currently there is no "cure" for Parkinson's so the best alternative is to ward off disease progression (motor and non-motor symptoms) for a long as possible and as slowly as possible. This can happen through exercise, maintaining low stress levels, keeping a consistent medication intake schedule (if taking meds), and optimal nutrition. It's not a quick fix silver bullet, it's an intentional long term commitment to fitness and health which rewards you back. The Reward is the preservation of your movement independence. That equivocates to the best quality of life possible with the freedom to enjoy life because you have movement ability.

One more note, you don't have to be in stage 1 to get started. there's so much you can do from where you are today! The key is knowing where to begin, where to focus your efforts, where to stave off potential postural and movement asymmetries, and how! Get started now!

Contact us to see how we can best support you if you're on the Parkinson's journey! www.pilates4parkinsons.com  We're here for you!

#GotDopamine #Pilates #PilatesInstructors #Makeadifference #HomeworkOut

#Pilateseveryday #PilatesDailyForABetterLife #ExerciseForParkinsons #PilatesforParkinsons

#EncourageEducateEmpowerExercise #encourageeducateempower #preserveyourmovementindependence, #Keepmoving #youarenotalone #fightagainstPD #untilthereisacure

Learning is “a process that leads to change, which occurs as a result of experience and increases the potential for improved performance and future learning” (Ambrose et al, 2010, p.3).

Neuroscience applications = Neuro-Cognitive approaches

or brain exercises that can be combined with physical exercises.

Combining Neuro-Cognitive approaches that stimulate the brain, with physical exercise offers even more benefits to the client in preserving movement independence.  Emphasis on spurring cognitive neuroplasticity during physical exercise also helps to stimulate and maintain existing neural pathways, and possibly create new ones, especially to enhance interoception and coordinated movement. 

Any Neurocognitive approach can be paired with exercise at any stage of PD if the client is amenable to it.  It is up to the trainer to read the client and know what is appropriate.  There may be a period of trial and error, but there will not be any harm in applying one or multiple methods during a session with each exercise.  Remember that most times with a person who has Parkinson’s disease, it is also quite possible that less is more, since they can become easily overwhelmed.

Research and clinical experience indicate the significance of the appropriate selection of therapeutic interventions, exercises, and stimulation for an optimal effect which can be translated into a better quality of life for PD patients (Keus et al., 2004, 2007; Aragon and Kings, 2010).

Note in the image below the process in which the brain can change, or the process of enhancing neuroplasticity:

Remember the old adage "use it or lose it", not only is that true but you must also make sure that whatever you are deciding to perpetuate that it is a practice which will benefit you in the long run...

Please join us on October 2nd at Alton Baker Park in Eugene, Oregon for the big Parkinson's Resources of Oregon (PRO) event: SOLE SUPPORT! This is the biggest event PRO hosts during the year and we are excited to be a part of it again! Please come out and show your support or drop in at the link below and just sign up for our team to show that you support the cause in spirit!

If you're able, PLEASE make a donation in any amount. You would not believe how much local support means to a person living with Parkinson's disease and their loved ones! PRO actually answers the phone when someone calls, and will not stop until they get you exactly what you need! We need to help keep this type of support for the Parkinson's community viable and powerful! People with Parkinson's "YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We got your backs!"

The more YOU KNOW, the more YOU CAN DO to take care of yourself!

Calling all Pilates and Movement Professionals, GET EDUCATED to help you work with people who have Parkinson's disease. The more you know, the more you can do to help someone preserve their movement independence! Here are a few workshops entirely online so you can do them at your pace and convenience. (For Pilates Teachers NPCP CECs available). Find the full details and register online by clicking the link).

These educational online workshop series are designed to upskill instructors in an effort to help their clients with PD enhance upright posture, improve spinal mobility, and preserve ambulation and gait. However, anyone who wants to learn and benefit from this knowledge and the movements may take the workshops.

Caregivers, let us help you ease the stress and take care of your body with a FREE Stretch & Pre-Pilates class.  Just click the link and use the coupon code "CARE" at check out.  LIVE online class meets Wednesdays at 9am for approximately 45 minutes. If you can't make it to the LIVE class, you can register and later receive a link for the recorded class to do it at your own time and convenience... (when you click below, you will be routed to the Pilates AURA website to sign up for the class - use code CARE)

New Workshops coming this Summer!

Our newsletter is quarterly. Send us your questions, comments, corrections, and experiences if you want to share... Let us know what you'd like to read about in our newsletter, or if you'd like to contribute an article.  We'll do our best to keep you posted on the information and news you need, and thank you for being a part of the P4P community.  Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone you feel could benefit from our content or services.  Thank you in advance!

ALSO, if you have received this email/newsletter multiple times, or prefer to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send us a note and we will be happy to accommodate you!  We apologize in advance for multiple transmissions, but hope you enjoy the content so much you read it twice!