Movement Therapy & Yoga for Parkinson’s Disease
Move with fluidity, reduce your restrictions, and stop worrying!
Living with Parkinson's Disease is complicated.
Symptoms create stress and stress worsens the symptoms, and the cycle of being off, worry, limitations, and new challenges can wear you down.
Over time, without the right mix of resources and support, people with Parkinson’s can become isolated, desperate, apathetic, or depressed.
Fortunately… There is hope!
My holistic movement therapy and yoga for Parkinson’s Disease, helps my clients gain confidence and move more easily. They feel empowered to employ these practices in all types of exercises and activities.
Available for clients living in Easthampton, Northampton & Florence, MA and online for clients anywhere!
“Donna offers a uniquely beneficial program, offering relief from the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, as well as strength of mind and body and a soothing of the soul…”
Movement Therapy & Yoga for Parkinson’s Disease
Move with fluidity, reduce your restrictions, and stop worrying!
Living with Parkinson's Disease is complicated.
Symptoms create stress and stress worsens the symptoms, and the cycle of being off, worry, limitations, and new challenges can wear you down.
Over time, without the right mix of resources and support, people with Parkinson’s can become isolated, desperate, apathetic, or depressed.
Fortunately… There is hope!
My holistic movement therapy and yoga for Parkinson’s Disease, helps my clients gain confidence and move more easily. They feel empowered to employ these practices in all types of exercises and activities.
Available for clients living in Easthampton, Northampton & Florence, MA and online for clients anywhere!
“Donna offers a uniquely beneficial program, offering relief from the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, as well as strength of mind and body and a soothing of the soul…”
How does yoga for Parkinson’s & movement therapy work?
As well as group and private sessions online, I offer in-person movement therapy and yoga for people with Parkinson's Disease in Easthampton, MA.
Together we work to unlearn the habitual movements of a lifetime, focusing on connective tissue matrix (fascia) and continuous positive tension throughout our body (tensegrity). In addition to exercises that train muscles, we focus on movements that provide ease and support while retraining your brain and nervous system.
Overall, you will gain new body and mind skills to help you move more easily and safely in your daily activities, from household chores to walking, working, exercising, boxing, and dancing.
How did you develop movement therapy & yoga for Parkinson’s?
For over 35 years, I have been helping people gain insight into their bodies and lives through yoga, somatic movement, and the healing arts.
In 2010, I recognized the power of combining these therapies with the techniques and philosophies from the Mark Morris Dance for Parkinson's, the Boston University Yoga for Parkinson's programs.
Now, with over a decade of experience working directly with clients to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, this is some of the work I am most proud of.
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"Every week I take away something significant that improves the quality of my life living with Parkinson’s...
I have been taking Donna’s Movement and Yoga group class online for four years and I don’t know how she does it, but each week she seems to zero in on exactly what I need and I leave feeling renewed. I also greatly appreciate learning about human anatomy and its role in functional movement and how it connects with what she teaches each week.”
J.B.
When living with Parkinson’s Disease, intentional movement is essential to your quality of life.
Movements and techniques that relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's.
SPIRAL BASED MOVEMENTS remove pressure from pain points such as knees or elbows, making your movements flow smoothly and naturally.
THERAPEUTIC YOGA releases muscle stiffening with precise movements.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE through breathing and meditation techniques that help you accept the difficulties of living with Parkinson's, face setbacks with resilience, and create an open mind for new solutions.
SOMATIC MOVEMENTS unwind areas of chronic holding and tension, sending new information to the brain that erases painful movement patterns.
STRUCTURAL SUPPORT finds connective tissue in movement and allows support from visceral organs.
MUSCLE EXPLORATION identifies specific muscles that may not be engaged in movement.
TARGETED EXERCISES increase strength, balance, coordination, agility, motor control, gait, and rapidity in your daily life.
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"Even before the class was over, my symptoms were practically alleviated.
I had been experiencing a numb prickly feeling in my foot with ankle weakness and tremors, and had been finding it difficult to stand for long periods of time. I mentioned this to Donna at the beginning of a class and she tailored that day’s lesson to focus on foot strengthening and alignment.
Even before the class was over, my symptoms were practically alleviated. In the following class, Donna reinforced the previous lesson and extended the focus on feet. I am constantly impressed by the depth of her knowledge, and by how she is able to lead a cohesive class while addressing each individual’s needs.
I now have greater insight into the mechanics and structure of my feet, and an abundance of strategies to continue improving their function. I am elated!”
Judy Bowerman, Northampton
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"Donna's classes helped my movement, and brought a feeling of camaraderie and humor.
Having Parkinson's disease can make a person feel tired and serious. So often I was feeling alone and frustrated with my condition. Donna's classes helped my movement, but even more than that brought a feeling of camaraderie and humor.
Her teaching brings a smile to my face and gives me opportunities to socialize and form real friendships.”
WDT
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"Each week, Donna brings imaginative integrative practices to people like me who have found little help in the medical sector.
Donna Brooks has helped me address a number of difficult health issues, including early Parkinson’s disease and a traumatic sports injury. Prodigiously knowledgeable about the interaction of body and mind, Donna has created a curriculum that offers pain relief and improved body function.
I commend her very effective professional work. I also commend her ability to nurture a community of souls who can face life’s inevitable difficulties with greater clarity and hope.“
Terry
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"Working with Donna has help me to improve my function in everyday life and reduce the chance of injury...
I definitely have an increased awareness of my body in space which really helps me move and function more effectively and with increased ease of movement.
I have really been able to improve my balance while reaching, turning and walking.
I have been able to increase my range of motion and to integrate anticipating my movement and then following through.
I’ve developed a greater awareness of my breath through diaphragmatic breathing and this really helps with stress relief.
I have developed much greater ease of movement and awareness of my body in space.
I have decreased pain through identifying holding patterns and developed new neural pathways for movement.
I have significantly increased the range of motion in my neck, shoulders and upper thoracic.
I have significantly increased my awareness of my posture and have improved my posture.”
K.C.
