The month of July sees the start of new dance classes specifically for people living with Parkinson’s, MS or survivors of a stroke. Michelle Hainsworth, a community dance artist, runs dance classes for wellbeing on the Island and is now launching ‘Make a Move’. Drawing on her training and experience in Dance and Disability and Dance for Parkinson’s, she has developed these unique classes to lift people’s spirits, improve their mobility, coordination and balance and make connections. There is scientific evidence to suggest that dancing to music is beneficial for people living with a neurological condition that affects their movement as it helps to stimulate new neural pathways. The classes consist of seated dance exercises, and then those who are able, use the chair for balance exercises whilst a volunteer demonstrates seated alternatives. The final part of the class brings people together working as a team, contributing ideas and making dances. Carers, friends and family can take part too. Michelle says:
“These classes are playful, light hearted and sociable. They are not therapy but they are therapeutic”. Classes will take place at Newport Methodist Hall, Quay Street on Mondays between 11:00-12:00.
For more details, email [email protected].
My Partner, who is 66 years old, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease last year. We noticed that he was experiencing hallucinations, slow movement, disturbed sleep, and twitchy hands and legs when at rest. He had to stop taking pramipexole (Sifrol), carbidopa/levodopa, and 2 mg of biperiden because of side effects. Our family doctor recommended a PD-5 treatment from naturalherbscentre. com, which my husband has been undergoing for several months now. Exercise has been very beneficial. He has shown great improvement with the treatment thus far. He is more active now, does more, and feels less apathetic. He has more energy and can do more activities in a day than he did before. As far as tremors I observe a progress, he improved drastically