Patients

Suggested Exercises

Improve strength, balance, stability and peace of mind

Rhythm & Grace Dance for PD® Classes
In Rhythm and Grace dance classes, participants explore movement and music in ways that are enjoyable, stimulating and creative. Dance is appropriate for anyone with PD, no matter how advanced, although no dance experience is required. In chairs, at a barre or moving across the floor, you will explore elements of modern dance, ballet, tap, folk and social dancing in a non-pressured, social environment in which music energizes, enriches and empowers.

Dance for PD® is a unique collaboration between the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. The program is built on one fundamental premise: professionally trained dancers are movement experts whose knowledge is useful to persons with PD. Dancers know all about stretching and strengthening muscles, and about balance and rhythm. Classes modeled after Dance for PD now occur in more than 40 communities in the US, Canada, Italy, India, Israel, UK and Germany.

"Just think about it!  Exercising this aging body with dance movements accompanied by show music or ballet.  Opening my arms and heart to embrace the music pouring into my soul to smooth my muscles. I am enriched, delighted, and transformed." - Paul Browne

Now you can order a Dance for PD® at Home DVD. Visit Dance for PD® for more information.

Yoga
The practice of yoga can help people with Parkinson’s to improve their strength, balance and stability. The Association offers several yoga classes in Denver and Boulder, CO.

Check out these informative resources:

Tai Chi
Tai Chi features movement with gentle balance-enhancing motions that can help people with Parkinson’s by reducing the gradual loss of balance that people with Parkinson’s often experience. However, Tai Chi offers much more.

For example, Tai Chi movements rotate the human body in about 95% of the ways the body can move, when a long form is practiced. This is far beyond what other exercise offers, and the closest similar exercise would be several swimming strokes, which together only rotate the body in about 65% of the ways it can move. For Parkinson’s patients, or anyone for that matter, this indicates that by “using” 95% of the body’s possible motion several times a week, the possibility of “losing” the ability to do so diminishes accordingly. This isn’t rocket science, but simple common sense. Parkinson’s patients have even more to gain from Tai Chi.

Tai Chi in the News

Other helpful exercises: Helpful Facial Exercises

Tremble Clefs Music therapy
Tremble Clefs Music therapy has been reported to improve symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease. Modest improvements were seen in symptoms including: motor coordination, speech intelligibility and vocal intensity, bradykinesia (slow movement), emotional functions, activities of daily living, and quality of life. Join one of our Tremble Clefs Classes today! 

Exercise Ideas for People Living with Parkinson’s Disease

Assisted Cycling Tours

Living with PD

From the Elephant to the Mountain
Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro

PAR Saved My Life
Life with PD

Yoga and Parkinson's
Paul Zeiger practices yoga with PD