Wow! What a class we had with instructor Lauren Caso on February 2nd!
All of us played identical instruments at the same time…first the gankogui (double bell), then the axatse (gourd rattle) and finally the kagan (baby drum, although they’re not so small!) so that we are becoming more in unison as we play the various rhythms used for each instrument. We’re working on connecting all of them into an interlocking, cohesive sound.
And then it was up on our feet and learning initial African circle dance motions! Trying those steps to authentic music recorded “in the field” was an excellent balance exercise…we’re not saying it was easy, but there was a great combination of concentration and laughter! We can hardly wait to try putting it together again next week!
That old saying that good things come in small packages fits our new friend Lauren. She may be small in size, but her instructing talent and patience level is as big as her heart!
The first in our six-week therapeutic drumming series began on January 26th and the room provided for us at CareOne at Peabody vibrated with rhythm!
Instructor Lauren Caso was full of enthusiasm and a fun and patient leader as a combination of 11 men and women tried three very different kinds of African instruments from Lauren’s diverse percussion collection.
We frequently read that as we age, we should constantly try something new to keep all of our brain and body cells firing. We CERTAINLY had the serotonin and dopamine levels in our brains reaching new heights on Tuesday!
Marilyn demonstrated one particular rhythm to the Friday exercise class members in Danvers, and further explained that when you allow yourself to think over what we learned during drumming, the rhythm actually “comes back”…now whether it’s 100% correct is another whole question! But we’ll try it again at our next class on February 2nd!
WOW! It was exciting to have 10 people join us at our first additional weekly class in Danvers on Friday, January 8th, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM! That’s right…we now offer two classes each week in the COA building!
Our Wednesday class members (10:30 to 11:30 AM) have become good friends with one another. The room is alive with our wide variety of recorded rhythms, good-natured teasing and laughter, coupled with the focused silence of people practicing balance control, stretching, strength-building endurance exercises, and cognitive awareness.
Recognizing that some people aren’t always available on Wednesdays and that others want to participate more than once a week, the Danvers COA welcomed the concept of a second class…and now the room buzzes with activity on Fridays, too!
Mark the days and times on your calendars and plan to stop by…both you and we will be glad you did!
We have two more exercise and movement opportunities to announce!
In addition to our weekly classes currently offered in Marblehead, Danvers and Gloucester, beginning on January 8th, a second Danvers class will be available on Friday afternoons at the Danvers Senior Center. And starting on Tuesday, January 12th, a new class will open in Hamilton at their senior center. Participants challenge themselves and other members to increase endurance, strength, coordination, balance, self-confidence, and cognitive awareness using seated and standing exercises, aided by a variety of manual equipment items. Incorporating music during sessions enhances rhythmic body movement, while singing and practicing different kinds of speech patterns aids voice projection and breathing and helps lessen the expressionless facial appearance (referred to as “masking”) often associated with Parkinson’s.
In the words of 20th century inspirational self-help author Robert Collier: “Success is the result of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” We are pleased to provide North Shore locations where training against a tough opponent like Parkinson’s motivates so many North Shore residents to stay in the fight!
Class locations and times
Hamilton: Tuesdays – 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Hamilton Council on Aging, 299 Bay Road, South Hamilton
Danvers: Wednesdays – 10:30 to 11:30 AM and Fridays – 1:00 to 2:00 PM
Danvers Senior Center, 25 Stone Street, Danvers
Marblehead: Wednesdays – 1:00 to 2:00 PM
Marblehead Council on Aging, 10 Pleasant Street
Gloucester: Thursdays – 2:00 to 3:00 PM
Rose Baker Senior Center, 6 Manuel F. Lewis Street
Keith, Linda and Marilyn were welcomed this week by Beverly support group facilitator Ray James, curious and motivated members of the group, and Beverly COA activities coordinator Annie Wright.
To their credit, many group members entered into the spirit of the exercise demonstration and ended the session by harmonizing their voices in song! Thank you, all! Your interest in exercise is an important step in continuing to find ways to create the best quality of life possible. We hope our program will become one of your building blocks!
Eight curious, good-natured members from a cross section of our exercise classes gathered in the Danvers Council on Aging art room on August 4th to participate in a first-time art therapy program. Instructor Saba Shahid from The Art Cart, based in Norwood, MA, and personal trainer Chad Moir (whose mother lived with Parkinson’s) were a patient and fun team!
The APDA Mass Chapter in Boston funded this initial event and asked us to collaborate with them in arranging the details for presenting it here on the North Shore. The Danvers COA graciously offered the use of its lovely art facility and despite the monsoon rain storm that blew through, we had fun together.
Alternating between the quietness of concentration to the self-conscious chuckles about their progress, we felt everyone had a good time together! Special thanks to Al, Barbara, Diane, Gayle, Keith, Neil, Laurie, and Susan…and to Barbara’s daughter, Leanne, who came all the way from Amherst, New Hampshire to escort her mom to the class! You’re a great group of newly-minted artists and your lighthouses turned out really well!
To Cathi Thomas at the APDA Mass Chapter Information and Referral Center in Boston, and to Saba and Chad, thank you for giving us the opportunity to share the Art Cart program.
The APDA Mass. Chapter (that’s the American Parkinson’s Disease Association Massachusetts Chapter in Boston at www.apdama.org) asked Parkinson’s Fitness and the Marblehead Parkinson’s support group to collaborate with them in offering an art class event for the North Shore as a trial program. It is part of The Art Cart therapy program based in Norwood, MA. To read more about The Art Cart visit: http://www.projectcontagious.com/the-art-cart.html
We’re delighted that the Danvers COA has volunteered their beautiful art room for our use! It can accommodate 9 people and 3 have already signed up since receiving word on Wednesday…notices just went out this week to our Marblehead, Danvers, and Gloucester classes!
The reserved date and time is Tuesday, August 4th, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. The address is the Danvers Council on Aging building, 25 Stone Street.
The APDA has generously funded the trial program, which enables us to offer it at no charge! If you are interested in reserving a space, please call or email soon, as the available space requires a first-come-first-served limitation at this time.
Linda Hall at:
781-572-5918
lindajhall53@gmail.com
parkinsonsfitness@gmail.com
Just this week, we welcomed more new members into our exercise class at the Danvers Council on Aging location at 25 Stone Street! We’ve just about outgrown our room!
The Danvers staff and program volunteers are so warm and welcoming! No wonder it’s such a busy place…and we’re happy to be part of the energy there!
If you’re from the Danvers or surrounding areas and are wondering what kinds of interesting activities are available, we encourage you to contact the Danvers COA program coordinator, Paula Corcoran. You’ll be glad you did! Paula’s email at the office is PCORCORAN@mail.danvers-ma.org.
Sometimes we get so busy among the three class locations, we don’t post to our blog as often as we should!
We’re happy to welcome new friends Frank, Gus, Winnie, Patrick, Teresa, Barbara, Bob, Anthea, Millie, Lynn, and Al…and including Diane who’s back up north from her home in Florida for the summer! Each of you offers something special to our program. Thank you for the effort you’re giving weekly, along with the others in each of the classes!
You’re taking the concept of motivated moving to heart…and it shows!
“Focus on what has helped you overcome challenges in the past and find ways to use these strategies every day as you address challenges and stress.”
— Amit Sood, M.D.
Amit Sood, M.D, M.Sc., is a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and chair of the Mind Body Medicine Initiative at Mayo Clinic based in Rochester, Minnesota.
