Reflections on Teaching Yoga and Movement for Parkinson’s Disease
For the past three years I have had the very good fortune of teaching a Yoga and Movement for Parkinson's class out here in Hadley / Northampton Mass. I say good fortune because I get to watch courage, honesty and humility in action in every class. It also happens to be fun. My classes are meant to be soothing and...
Video: Yoga and Movement for Parkinson’s Disease with Donna Brooks
An introduction to Yoga and movement for help with Parkinson's Disease. Move better, faster, easier and with more confidence and balance. Read more
What’s up with Yoga therapy and why might I want it?
In my mind, Yoga therapy is the process of liberating the natural intelligence of the body to reverse the aching, pain and limitations we feel from age, injury and misuse. Most of us struggle to correct imbalances and problems while never quite realizing that ease in our nervous system and muscles are key to living without pain and with pleasure....
The Simple Pleasure of Moving
When I was younger and felt strongly about mastering each Asana (posture) I encountered; I went for getting the postures "right" at the expense of pleasure I could have on the way. Don't get me wrong. Certainly, I enjoyed practicing Yoga. I still enjoy it. But I didn't experience it as pleasure exactly. I think, as westerners, we go for...
Why this Yoga Teacher cracks a bullwhip!
A BULLWHIP???!!! Isn't that sexist, sexy, weirdly S&M or an obsession with a weapon? In any case, how could a Yoga teacher be interested in doing this? I mean, Isn't Yoga about serenity and all of that? Or at least getting strong and flexible in a relaxed way. But it's definitely non-violent and of course calm. Ah, but Yoga and...
Does your practice dull your curiosity?
Practice makes perfect. That's our ideal, right? To really get those Yoga poses, dance moves or movement patterns JUST RIGHT. After all, then we will be happy or accomplished or perhaps worthy of our art. But what about awareness? You know, that subtle and ever so succulent place of being fully engaged with our feeling, our sensing, our knowing beyond...
Homeopathic Yoga
I said it. In public. After all, Now two students have independently named it and when I joke about it to others there is a recognition. "Donna, you should call this Homeopathic Yoga" Well, what is homeopathy? It can be defined as giving as minimal a dose possible to create the most change. I like that. And I have to...
Video: Proud Warrior into Power Bullwhip Cracking
Watch Donna demonstrate bullwhip cracking using full body integration and the swing of Proud Warrior (Virabhadrasana). Read more
Balance rest with positive stress for neurological difficulty, stroke and Parkinson’s Disease
Stress isn't all bad. In fact, you need a certain amount of positive stress to encourage healing and to build strength. Physical therapy is very good at providing positive stress. It's what makes you push to a new plateau or to hold on to basic function. But stress without the right type of relaxation is positive stress depleting. The right...
