Written by J. Hague
Hello community!
I am thrilled to bring the long-awaited Power Stretch class to your in-person schedule! Power Stretch has been an exclusive online-only class with Jordyn for several years now and I’m pleased to have Paige and Danielle be able to teach it in-person. Whether you attend classes at 525 Beresford Avenue or 2109 Portage Ave, Power Stretch is available to you! Join us at 2:30pm on Tuesdays at Beresford or 11:15am at Portage.
Power Stretch is a Parkinson’s-specific strength, balance, coordination and flexibility focused class that will challenge you to move intentionally. The class is open to all levels of ability and can be completed from a standing or seated position. No equipment is used throughout the class, you’ll follow along with the instructor as they take you through a variety of body-weight only exercises.
If you’re not yet registered with us, now is a great opportunity to do so! All our programming is free-of-charge and you’re welcome to bring a spouse, family member or friend alongside you (please ensure they register with us as well).
Register here: https://uturnparkinsons.org/our-community/#account
If you’re already registered, go ahead and sign up here: https://uturnparkinsons.org/class-sign-up/
Join instructor Paige at Power Stretch every Tuesday at 2:30 PM, in-person at 525 Beresford Avenue!
At U-Turn Parkinson’s, we often say that we are more than “just a gym,” but what do we mean by that?
Exercise is medicine for Parkinson’s and that’s at the forefront of our mission in empowering individuals to live well with PD. But wellness and living well incorporates far more than just exercise.
There are actually 6 dimensions of wellness and it’s our goal for you to find all of them at U-Turn Parkinson’s.
Intellectual wellness refers to actively engaging in creative and stimulating activities that build mental growth, curiosity, and lifelong learning. It involves seeking out opportunities to expand knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and challenging oneself intellectually. Maintaining intellectual wellness means staying open to new ideas, exploring different perspectives, and using mental capacities to solve problems or create meaningful contributions to one’s environment.
For people living with Parkinson’s disease, intellectual wellness can be particularly valuable in supporting cognitive function and maintaining mental agility. We aim to include opportunities for intellectual wellness throughout all of our programming at U-Turn Parkinson’s, including but not limited to word-finding and memorization exercises at Vocal Strength, the moments of mindfulness in Power Stretch & Tai Chi and the education and learning opportunities offered at our upcoming Speaker Series.
Occupational wellness is the ability to find personal satisfaction and enrichment through work, hobbies, or volunteer roles. It involves balancing responsibilities and interests, contributing to a larger purpose, and exploring activities that align with values and skills.
Whether you’re still working, are retired or semi-retired, finding purpose through your daily activities will help promote wellness. Staying connected to your career as a mentor or consultant, trying new hobbies and exploring new interests or donating your time as a volunteer are ways you could build occupational wellness.
Did you know you can volunteer at U-Turn Parkinson’s? Give back to your immediate community by volunteering at the classes you don’t already attend as a member, volunteer at our educational or fundraising events or offer your expertise to help us grow as an organization! There are many ways to get involved. If you’re interested, please reach out at jordana@uturnpd.org, 204-510-4869 or stop me before or after class to discuss more.
Spiritual wellness involves seeking meaning, purpose, and a connection to something greater than oneself. It includes reflecting on personal values, practicing gratitude, fostering hope, and nurturing a sense of inner peace and resilience. Spiritual wellness will look different for everyone and there’s no one right way to practice it. It can be done individually through mindfulness and meditation, journaling, listening to music and gratitude practices or collectively by gathering with others who share your values and beliefs.
At U-Turn Parkinson’s, our goal is to provide you with opportunities to grow your spiritual wellness throughout your week. You may notice a gratitude jar at the end of class, an opportunity to breathe intentionally to promote mindfulness and a moment of peace or a simple encouragement from your instructor to stay in the moment, refocus and build resilience. We hope that these small moments help you to reflect and connect to something larger than yourself for your own benefit but also for the benefit of everyone around you.
Emotional wellness refers to the ability to understand, accept, and manage emotions effectively. It includes coping with life’s challenges, building meaningful relationships, and fostering a sense of emotional resilience and self-awareness. Managing Parkinson’s is difficult but there are things that can help.
Our Care Partner Support Group (Fridays), and Meet for Coffee Support Group (in-person Mondays and online biweekly Thursdays) provide an outlet to discuss, share and learn more about PD. Attendees discuss what works for them, where they need more resources and support and offer emotional support. Having a community of individuals who are experiencing or have experienced similar challenges can be life changing.
At U-Turn Parkinson’s, our goal is to provide you with opportunities to connect with others, share resources and find comfort knowing you aren’t in this fight alone. As we continue to grow, we hope to add in additional support groups to our schedule. We’re looking for a team of facilitators to help make this possible. Are you or someone you know interested in facilitating a support group? If so, I would love to chat more! Send an email to jordana@uturnpd.org or give us a call at 204-510-4869.
Social wellness is the ability to connect with others, develop supportive relationships, and contribute to a sense of community. It emphasizes communication, mutual respect, and creating fulfilling social bonds. You’ve likely noticed by now that the 6 dimensions of wellness often overlap, as we’ve already discussed the importance of having a community and connecting with others. What I’d like to emphasize now in that case, is the importance of having fun. Parkinson’s is hard to forget about. It impacts every minute of every day. We know that exercise isn’t always fun, and neither is starting your car in -30, bundling up and driving in less-than-ideal conditions to go and do that exercise.
Therefore, we’re intentional about bringing as much life and energy into our programs as we can. You do the hard work of getting yourself to class and we’ll do everything we can to make exercising, connecting and living well as easy as possible once you arrive!
Physical wellness involves taking proactive steps to achieve and maintain a healthy body. This includes engaging in regular physical activity, adopting healthy habits, and making choices that promote long-term physical health. We know that exercise is medicine and that it is critical to living well with Parkinson’s. That’s what we’re all about! But physical wellness is more than just being active in the gym. It’s also eating a well-balanced diet, drinking enough water, taking adequate rest after exercise and getting enough sleep.
Exercise on its own isn’t enough. We need to take care of our bodies when we aren’t exercising as well, so that exercise can have the maximum benefit possible. The impact of Parkinson’s on sleep and nutrition isn’t lost on us, we know there are additional challenges to face outside of simply making good choices. Our encouragement is to use the resources you have access to (physiotherapist, dietician, family doctor, etc.) to empower you to make the best choices possible. And if you need a recommendation, please reach out! We’d be happy to help connect you to the people you need.
I hope this gives you a clearer picture of who U-Turn Parkinson’s is and who we aim to be. Our aim is far higher than simply a gym for people living with PD. We are your wellness centre, and that includes all dimensions of wellness. If you have questions, suggestions or comments about anything we offer at U-Turn Parkinson’s, please reach out. I’d love to chat with you!
In the meantime, live your best!
See you in class,
Jordana
Program Manager
204-510-4869
jordana@uturnpd.org