Parkinson’s Disease or PD is a chronic, progressive disease that affects the nervous system and the part of the brain that controls movement, posture, and balance. PD occurs in men more often than women and most commonly targets those over age 50. Early symptoms include stiffness and slight tremors, and with advancing of the disease, limited movement, increasing tremors, slowness, and difficulty with balance, walking, speech impairment, and postural abnormalities.
PD is believed to be caused in part by genetics and the environment, and is linked to a deficiency in one of the pathways of the neurotransmitter dopamine, resulting in symptoms of tremor, rigidity and slower movements. New research has also been focused on gut health and the immune response in relation to the onset of PD. Depression and dementia accompany PD in many cases. Medications are to date, the most successful intervention to treat the symptoms of PD, although exercise and yoga can be helpful to manage symptoms and side effects of some of the medications. Common side effects of the medications for PD include gastrointestinal distress, hallucinations, delusional states, insomnia, and changes in mental activity. Long term use of the drugs can result in movement disorders (dyskinesias) and clinical fluctuations of motor disability.
An exercise program can be very helpful for managing symptoms of PD and has been shown to bring improvements in motor performance, hand-eye coordination, stability and balance, and muscle strength and volume. People diagnosed with PD may get discouraged from moving, and understandably so, especially once mobility becomes harder in day to day life. Yoga practiced slowly and mindfully can be especially helpful for those suffering from PD, helping to promote conscious awareness of movement, improved posture, better balance and increased flexibility and strength. Yoga also helps promote improvement in mood and greater relaxation. The Parkinson’s Hope Digest reports that many Parkinson’ patients have reported “diminished symptoms and improved motion and emotional spirits after taking yoga classes.” Yoga and meditation can help one feel less anxious and more in control. A daily meditation practice such as mindfulness and deep breathing will help develop the habit of becoming calm when facing stressors such as tremors, and once you are calm you can think more creatively and make healthier choices.
For a person with PD, staying active is critical and yoga offers a wonderful way to introduce gentle movement into ones daily routine. Yoga can consist of postures, breath work, meditation, or a combination of the above. Special classes for those with Parkinson’s disease can sometimes be found or many times a chair class is appropriate for those with PD due to balance issues. Working one-on-one with a therapeutically trained yoga practitioner can be especially helpful to ensure an customized program.
As with any new activity, consult your physician before starting a yoga practice. There may be certain limitations that your doctor may tell you about depending on your medical history. There are many types of yoga practices, not all of them appropriate for PD sufferers, so look for an instructor that has been trained in a more gentle or therapeutic style and also that has experience winking with people with PD. It may only take as little as 5 minutes a day to begin to see positive results! A well trained therapeutically oriented instructor or yoga therapist will be able to guide you into a practice that fits your needs and adjust it along the way as needed.
Kristy Manuel is a YogaFit Senior Master Trainer and Director of the YogaFit Therapy Program. She is an experienced yoga teacher, certified fitness trainer and wellness specialist with over 25 years experience in the fitness industry.
Sources:
National Parkinson’s Foundation
Parkinson’s and the Art of Moving by John Argue Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Society Parkinson’s Hope Digest
