True confessions of a former couch potato

At the risk of destroying my image, I must admit to having found an exercise program I enjoy, and look forward to doing. It is Pilates. At the end of my weekly hour of one-on-one training, I almost always feel better than I did when I walked into class. I am more relaxed and energized, have fewer aches and pains, and have renewed confidence in my ability to continue living well with Parkinson’s.

My instructor designed my Pilates routine to specifically counter Parkinson’s effects on me, and continually adapts it to meet my changing needs. It blends mat work, passive and active stretching, and specialized equipment (the Reformer) that I use in a variety of positions with varying levels of resistance. I’m able to work muscles that otherwise do not get exercised; muscles I didn’t even know I had, let alone could trigger. Controlled breathing patterns and intense concentration on every movement are at the heart of everything we do.

Week to week I see small improvements in my posture, balance, flexibility, strength, and ability to control my movements. I take bigger strides, reach better, turn better, and stand taller — which is especially important if you are vertically challenged like me. Seeing the progress I’m making is what motivates me to drag myself out of the house at 8 a.m. every Monday morning to get to class. Even so, I have setbacks, and days when I don’t have what it takes to perform as well as I would like. That’s when my instructor kindly reminds me that even “healthy” people do not always function at 100%.

Pilates helps people with Parkinson’s:

• Strengthen core abdominal muscles to support the spine and improve posture and balance, thereby reducing falls.
• Control breathing to more efficiently deliver oxygen to the body and boost energy levels.
• Stretch muscles, which relieves stiffness, tension, and pain.
• Maintain flexibility through side bending, and extension, rotation and flexing of the spine.
• Relieve stress by relaxing and focusing on muscle control while strengthening and toning the body.

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