How yoga is helping me after 5 years of Parkinson’s
I learned yoga when the pandemic came. The pandemic officially started a couple months after I learned that I had Parkinson’s disease.
So, I had two good reasons to really get into this excellent form of exercise.
- The gyms were closed, but I had access to plenty of yoga videos online.
- Practicing yoga can help ease Parkinson’s symptoms.
That was almost five years ago. It’s time to reassess what yoga has done for my well-being. (My earlier assessment is here.)
As you read this “interview with myself,” you can decide what yoga might do for you.
Q. Why did a Parkinson’s diagnosis steer you toward yoga?
A. I had been active in sports and exercise all of my life, but my routines focused mainly on cardio fitness. People with Parkinson’s need to include stretching, balance, flexibility, and strength training in their workouts to get maximum benefits from exercise.
Q. What exactly does yoga do for you?
A. It strengthens my muscles while making them more flexible. It relieves stiffness (rigidity) and slowness (bradykinesia). It improves overall balance, which is important for hiking. And some routines can send my heart rate into 5th gear for a nice cardio workout.
Q. How did you learn to do yoga?
A. There are literally hundreds of yoga instructional videos at all levels to stream on your home screen. I found a guy – can’t even remember his name – with a 30-minute routine that I did over and over until I got the poses and their names down.
Q. Do you ever go to a class?
A. Most of my practices are still at home, but once a week I try to attend an hourlong class offered at my fitness center. The teacher, Jim, has a loyal following there. Jim has a soft voice and a long white beard, and he often uses Sanskrit when announcing the poses, which is fun. At the end of class we chant a single “om,” which has a purpose I’m still wondering about.
Q. Has yoga gotten easier?
A. Yes and no. Yes because I know the poses and “flow” of it. No because I’m not holding the balancing poses as well as I used to. My Parkinson’s is showing.
Q. In what other ways do your Parkinson’s symptoms affect you while practicing yoga?
A. Early on, they didn’t get in the way. Now, however, the tremor in my foot and leg won’t settle down sometimes. At class, it’s difficult to hide that, but Jim and many of the students know that I have Parkinson’s.
Q. Are there yoga classes specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s?
A. Happily, yes! While I haven’t tried one yet, I may in the future. Ask around. Check with local gyms. Call a physical therapy office nearby – they are often connected with organizations that offer specialized classes at many levels. Or look for fliers at a medical center for people with movement disorders.
Q. Besides physically, how has yoga helped you?
A. Yoga is both a mind and body exercise. It has truly changed my life. I’ve learned how to “breathe my way” through times when I’m anxious. Also, the relaxation techniques learned in yoga help me get to sleep. I pay more attention to posture as I walk and sit. I have no way of proving this, but I give my yoga practices credit for clearer thinking as my brain ages.
Q. After 5 years, do you consider yourself a pro?
A. Definitely not. But on a good day I can hold a mean “crow pose” for 10 full seconds.
Do you have experience with yoga? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
