Step out and exercise: ‘It’s okay to be uncomfortable’
Taylor Caron
British Columbia, Canada
Time of diagnosis: March 2024, but I had been struggling with symptoms for two to three years before.
Exercise of choice: Running, hiking, walking, cross-country skiing and downhill skiing, plus I weightlift — I like to work with a barbell to do deadlifts, squats, and bench presses. I also do some yoga, cycling, and paddling.
Favorite outdoor exercise: Hiking and downhill skiing by far! And now, more than ever, I try to get these in, as I feel they may be the hardest to keep doing at the level I have been.
Favorite place to hike: We have so many places here in BC to hike, and I love them all. I love getting up into the high alpine.
Toughest hike and why: My hardest hike was recently up to a local glacier. It’s a 12.4 km (8-mile) round trip with a 1133 m (3,720-foot) elevation gain. I have been doing this hike since I was a young adult, and for many it’s a double black diamond, so it has always been a struggle. This was the fourth time I’d done it and definitely the hardest; I think it may have been my last. It’s a long day with quite a bit of bouldering and hand-over-hand climbing over big rocks. My tremor was really bad midday, and it took a lot of focus to get my leg up. My meds weren’t really kicking in, so we stopped for a good rest and things started to feel better. I was able to move forward and finish the last push up!
Never say never, I might do it again, but it did feel like it was a stretch for me that day. Having a good friend with me and listening to my body on when to rest are what got me through it.
Most proud of related to being outdoors: That it’s something my adult children love to do, too. The years of being outside with kids have paid off, in that we all have a love for it and can celebrate being out there together. In regard to PD, it’s that I continue to use the outdoors as my favourite training area — regardless of the weather or where my body is at that day.
Exercise gear that is a must: My Norda running shoes! Indoors, it’s my playlists to keep me motivated.
Advice for someone with PD who is just starting to exercise: Step out! It’s okay to be uncomfortable. It takes extra effort, but you can still accomplish big goals.
Biggest challenge with Parkinson’s right now: This week it was actually my mental health — I was feeling low and sad. It’s a strange cycle I can get into where I feel down, and then I don’t get out to do the one thing that really seems to help — getting outside and using my body. It is a big mental push I have to dig deep for, to remind myself that this is my one ticket, my one body, and I need to use it while I can at whatever ability it has at that moment.
Next week it might be something new, but the constant struggles for me are my tremor, digestion, and fatigue.
How I try to stay positive: It’s the push to dig deep and remind myself to meet myself with what I have in the tank at that moment and to use it — even if it’s only a little spark. If I keep blowing on it, it will slowly light me up. Sometimes it’s just a walk, but as soon as I get going, I start to feel more positive and the ball starts rolling.
When I’m feeling really sad, I also think it’s okay (and can even be positive) to let myself be sad and angry for a time, but then to move on from it. It actually helps the emotions move through me and keeps me feeling positive more often. Another trick I’ve found is following my fellow people in the PD community online! They motivate me so much when I’m feeling stuck.
Advocacy work for PD: Not much as of yet. I didn’t start talking openly about my diagnosis until six months ago, when I wrote an article for our local paper for Parkinson’s Awareness Month, volunteered at a SuperWalk fundraiser, and helped out at a Parkinson’s Awareness event.
Career field: I am still working as library director for our small local library. I’m hoping I can continue to work for a while, as I’m still in my 40s, but I am looking at shifting my level of responsibility and workload in the next few years so I can find a better work-life balance, limit stress, and find more time to manage my PD.
Other interests/hobbies: I love music and have been a part-time DJ for 25+ years. I used to have a show on our local Co-op radio and play parties but have been doing this much less these days, as sleep is so much more important to me. Reading, gardening, and spending time with my dogs and cats are also favourite hobbies.
Something the world should know: Hiking has so many benefits for people with Parkinson’s. It is a great way to get your cardio, but it also helps with balance and foot placement when walking on uneven ground. Being out in nature is so grounding and calming, it settles the nervous system. Hiking and facing challenges out in the mountains is such a great way to get a natural dopamine hit!
Get out there and challenge yourself and the limitations the world (and your body) has given you. We can do hard things!
Where to find me online: Instagram, shakymouseadventures
If you have Parkinson’s and outdoor exercise is part of your life, you could be featured in Unshakable Voices, too. Email unshakablehiker@gmail.com.