Special exercise classes for people with Parkinson’s at the Senior Center

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center is offering practical solutions for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their care partners. The Center is holding four mini-series workshops which will focus on moving with less effort, balance and mobility, and also fall prevention. 

Class sizes are limited.

  

The workshops will taught by Coach Lisa Stuebing, a leader in older adult fitness who specializes in brain health.

You Might Have Parkinson’s But It Doesn’t Have You

• When LuAnne takes her pug, Fig, for a walk she feels like she is trying to slog through drifts of mashed potatoes. It’s just so exhausting!
• Shirley misses reading for pleasure. It’s the craziest thing – sometimes she can see pretty well with her readers.  Sometimes a whole line of text is missing or she can’t seem to focus.
• Bob is spending six weeks in a skilled nursing facility. He took a step backwards and couldn’t stop stepping and stumbling until he sat down hard.  He needed a partial hip replacement.

What do LuAnne, Shirley and Bob have in common? They all have Parkinson’s disease.

No two people with Parkinson’s experience exactly the same disease. Of the 30 classic symptoms of PD, each person typically develops between 12 – 15 symptoms, in fairly random combinations. No wonder it can take up to 12 years for a conclusive diagnosis, this is a confounding disease!

People with Parkinson’s all have one thing in common. Every single one is facing a progressive disease that originates in the brain. Parkinson’s is caused by damage to some brain cells called neurons in a specific part of the brain. The neurons no longer produce dopamine. At the molecular level, dopamine is a chemical in the brain that transmits signals to move muscles. People do not have symptoms until the production of dopamine is down by 60, 70 or even 80%.

  

Parkinson’s disease has several celebrity faces: Michael J. Fox, Mohamed Ali, Brian Grant, Davis Phinney and Mark Morris. Because of the dedicated work of these and other foundations, great strides have been made in improving the quality of life for people with PD. The foundations have helped to fund important research at institutions like the OHSU Brain Institute, in Portland.  

The three driving questions for people with PD are:  Can I produce more dopamine naturally?  Is there a way to improve my balance and coordination?  I’m not ready for a walker, is there something sportier?  These are the questions to be addressed at the Shoreline-LFP Parkinson’s Workshops taught by Coach Lisa, Mud Puddle Fitness, LLC.

Workshop Dates and Registration Information: All workshops include talk and movement. Come dressed in exercise clothing and be prepared to take notes. Care Partners are welcome.

• Series 1: Applied Neuroplasticity: Can the mind help to make positive changes in the brain? Practice internal and external cueing techniques. Learn to move with less effort. Care Partners complimentary registration. Friday, March 21-April 11, 12:30-1:30p.m.
• Series 2:  Exercise and Dopamine:  Apply the latest science to ensure that your exercise routine is effective. Learn to maximize dopamine production.  Discuss protecting and generating new neurons. Care Partners complimentary registration. Friday, May 2-23, 12:30-1:30p.m.
• Series 3:  Walking Poles for Balance and Mobility: Urban poling techniques will give you a boost with every step. Build core muscles. Walk farther. Stand taller. Be safer. Bring your poles or borrow a pair for class-time. Care Partners must register. Friday, May 30-June 13, 12:30-1:30p.m.
• Series 4:  Fall Prevention for People with Parkinson’s: Falls risk assessments will be discussed in detail. Learn strength and balance exercises to reduce your risk. Develop your personal checklist and take action. Care Partners complimentary registration. Friday, June 20-July 18, 12:30-1:30p.m.
  

Class fee per series: $30 for senior center members/ $35 for non-members. You may register at the Front Desk at the Senior Center or call 206-365-1536 to register with a credit card. 

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center is located in the southern-most building of the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st AVE NE, #1.

For questions about the classes, contact instructor Lisa Stuebing 206-524-6788.