Trail is just steps away from home for mom with YOPD 

Patti Johnson
British Columbia, Canada

Year of diagnosis: 2011

Exercises of choice: I do yoga daily at home as well as dance, pilates, and anything prescribed by my physiotherapist. 

Favorite outdoor exercise: Hiking is an easy #1 for me. I do love kayaking but limit it to occasionally due to an old arm injury. Plus, it’s a whole production with the gear. But being on the water is lovely even if more rare. 

Favorite place to hike: Right out my back door. I am so happy to have a trail near with zero obstacles to prevent me from getting out, other than weather and PD. My previous homes were always deep in the suburbs, and I’d have to pack up, drive, and park, and then deal with my dog getting my car dirty, etc. Now I am on a trail with only two minutes of sidewalk to get me there — so grateful!

Toughest hikes and why: Second-toughest hike would be the Grouse Grind in North Vancouver, also called Nature’s Stairmaster. This is a notoriously difficult local trail that requires hikers to ride a gondola down to the parking lot for safety due to the trail’s steepness. It has lots of exposed roots and rocks, and mud with some snow at the top in spring. Last time I did the Grind I had my kids ahead of me, so I just had to keep up. When the kids are lovin’ it, that makes it enjoyable even if exhausting. 

My toughest hike has to be Pacaya (an active volcano) in Guatemala on New Year’s Day 2020. I booked a solo trip to Mexico City and Guatemala, luckily just before the pandemic. My plan was to take the horseback option for the hike as I had a jam-packed itinerary before and after. But the tour was a group of senior citizens complete with knee replacements or heart problems, so at age 48, despite nine years with PD, my competitive nature won out and, yes, I took the trail myself. It was a very difficult terrain for me, but so worth it.  

Most proud of related to outdoors: Just that I can still get out and keep doing technical trails after 15 years of YOPD. That’s all. 🙂

Outdoor or exercise gear that is a must: My foam and cork rollers for myofascial release to help recover from a hike or dreaded dystonia in the glutes, ugh. 

Advice for someone recently diagnosed who wants to stay active: Set goals, sign up for classes and have a good buddy who is already active kindly hold you accountable.   

Advice for someone with PD who is just starting to exercise: Find something you love, check with a physiotherapist, DON’T OVERDO IT, leave time for recovery!

Biggest challenge with Parkinson’s right now: Planning and making appointments. It doesn’t seem like it would be such an issue to overcome, but brain chemistry is so complicated. Realizing that I am less reliable with the uncertain nature of symptoms that come and go, it is difficult to commit to events. And then friends get busy with their plans, so it can be a challenge. 

How I try to stay positive: If I find myself off track with diet or exercise, I don’t dwell on it, but as I have recognized the pattern, I count myself back on track and keep looking toward the healthy path of what I can do to keep up a good fight. 

Advocacy work for PD: I started research advocacy early on, back when the MJFF Trial Finder was first launched. Also, I volunteered for the PD Warrior training program locally. I also advocate for yoga and breath work to help fight PD symptoms and progression by maintaining balance, posture and alignment.

Other interests/hobbies: Family and my pets, of course, plus mostly nerdy things like trivia, museums, and Jane Austen period books and movies. 

Career field: I’m retired, but I worked in accounting full-time for 10+ years with YOPD. I am happy to leave the desk and computer behind. 

How to find me online: Right here on Instagram.

 

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If you have Parkinson’s and the outdoors and exercise are part of your life, you could be featured in Unshakable Voices, too. Email unshakablehiker@gmail.com.