Yoga Therapy and Parkinson's Disease

[yogawoods]

I am putting together a class for folks with Parkinson's disease. I have taught people with MS and have that experience. Does anyone have any specific experience they would be willing to pass on....Thanks, yogawoods

[xela]

Do you subscribe to Yoga Journal? February's issue had an entire article about it, including exercises.

[Nichole]

Dear Yogawoods,
Mukunda has given some wonderful guidance on Parkinson's disease on this Q&A board. Search for Parkinson's (don't forget the ' or it won't show all the posts) and you'll get 4 older threads on the subject. The advise is framed for yoga therapists who see clients in private sessions, but I think it could be beneficial for your class too, especially if it is smaller sized and you can hold an intimate and sattvic space for them.

I hope this helps you prepare. I wish you all the best with this beautiful work.

Namaste
Nichole

[Irene]

Originally Posted by yogawoods

I am putting together a class for folks with Parkinson's disease. I have taught people with MS and have that experience. Does anyone have any specific experience they would be willing to pass on....Thanks, yogawoods

I currently hold sessions for the Parkinson's Self-Help Group in Airdrie Scotland and we use Pavanmuktasana or Joint Freeing Series as taught by Mukunda Stiles in his Structural Yoga Therapy book. We use parts of it at any one time in combination with the Wave Breath or Three Part Breath, starting with a focus on the movement of the inhalation and exhalation at the top of the chest, then moving on to the lower ribcage for intercostal breathing and finally to the belly where we focus there. Once the students have learned these 3 steps to inward awareness with the breath they put it all together and enjoy the slow, rythmic movements of breath awareness.
They also take part in guided meditation for beginners, visualisations and deep relaxation using meditation music.
I hope this helps and it will be good to hear from you.
Best wishes namaste,
Irene Campbell
Yoga Teacher and Yoga Therapist (Apprentice)