We’ve scheduled an Open House in September at the Lynn Fitness Center for people with Parkinson’s who want to learn how boxing is a great way to build stamina, strength, mental focus, balance, and agility.
Our plan is to expand our boxing program from one day to two. One class will continue as usual on Thursday afternoons in Salem, and the second will take place on weekends at the Lynn center to accommodate people unable to attend during the week. Come to the Open House and check out where, what and how this is going to happen and meet the instructors and a few of our Salem class members! Here are the particulars…
Where: Lynn Fitness Center, 161 Eastern Avenue, Lynn
When: Sunday, September 10, 2017
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
For more information or to let us know you’re planning to attend, please click here or phone us at 781-572-5918.
A strong piece of advice was shared many times by a Parkinson’s support member during group meetings. One of his favorite trips was to Walt Disney World in Florida with his family…and he rode many of the rides, too!
“DON’T GIVE UP GOING PLACES THINKING THAT YOU CAN’T TRAVEL BECAUSE YOU HAVE PARKINSON’S!
LEAVE STUBBORN PRIDE BEHIND, LIVE YOUR LIFE AS BEST YOU CAN, AND HAVE SOME FUN WHILE DOING IT!”
The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation recently posted great tips on their web site about transportation and travel. Read more by clicking on the link below, and then start making YOUR plans! The rest of your life is waiting! 
http://www.pdf.org/summer17_transportation?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=general
Incontinence often becomes a side effect connection to Parkinson’s that creates questions that go unasked and therefore unanswered during medical visits. Why is that? Embarrassment about discussing “bodily functions”? No seemingly obvious link between the brain and the gastro-urinary system? The link below has excellent information and suggestions.
http://pdcenter.neurology.ucsf.edu/patients-guide/urinary-problems
“The University of California, San Francisco Medical Center has an international reputation for its excellence as a clinical and research facility, and the UCSF Department of Neurology is widely recognized as one of the leading neuroscience centers in the United States.
The Parkinson’s Disease Clinic and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco Department of Neurology has been a National Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence since 1992.”
May is another kind of national “awareness” month. What’s the subject? Unfortunately, it’s melanoma skin cancer. Did you know that there’s a see-saw balance between the benefits of sunshine and the risks that having too much exposure create for people with Parkinson’s? It’s important that you read further…
Let’s stay positive first. Enjoying moderate exposures to sunshine can help the brain boost its serotonin levels. That’s an “upper” because serotonin is what helps brighten our mood. Sunshine also helps our circadian rhythms stay on track, which keeps the body’s “clock” running more efficiently. And exposure to the sun’s UV rays can also help clear up eczema and psoriasis skin conditions. (Just remember that if you have one of those skin conditions, talk with a doctor to manage just how much sunshine to enjoy.)
Now, for the not-so-positive information: In a 2015 “Ask the MD” article written by Dr. Rachel Dolhun for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, studies are described that explain some of the research that links Parkinson’s and melanoma risks. Click here to read what Dr. Dolhun shared.
Researchers also advised in a 2016 “Melanoma News Today” article that: “It is prudent that dermatologists be aware of this increased risk of melanoma and explain this risk to their patients with Parkinson’s and recommend to them sun protection, self-surveillance, and periodic skin check-up.” Have any of YOUR physicians mentioned this to you? The article is available to read here as another important resource for healthy living.
Now that you know more about this possible link, be certain that your doctor includes an examination of all your skin surfaces, including areas where the sun DOESN’T shine, such as the soles of the feet and the buttocks.
As recently as May 4th this year, the government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued preventive warnings for everyone, many of which you may find familiar. They are certainly worth reading, especially as summer fun time approaches. Click here for the CDC resource updates. While you’re learning these safety tips about sun exposure, remember your eyes too and wear sunglasses!
After the fun many of us had while bowling during our April mini-fundraiser, one of our class members suggested that the people in our classes might enjoy getting together once a week at the Sunnyside bowling lanes for coffee and the exercise of bowling a string or two.
The lane use is slower on Monday mornings around 10 AM, so we’ve issued a no-reservations-needed invitation for class members to come by for coffee compliments of Sunnyside, and a whole lot of fun. It’ll be a “fun-raiser” every week! Shoe and lane rentals are the bowlers’ responsibilities, as is making new friends and enjoying time spent with the ones already known.
Location: Sunnyside Bowladrome – 176 Water Street, Danvers (same road as Bishop Fenwick High School) – 10:00 AM – Monday mornings.
Questions? Phone Linda Hall at 781-572-5918 or email her by clicking here.
Whether you were diagnosed lately or a long while ago, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has created a wonderful guide for finding one’s way through the maze of changes produced by Parkinson’s. We encourage you to visit the site…
https://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/parkinsons-360.html?et_cid=845063&et_rid=224746459&et_lid=PD360em_cid=
It’s (supposed to be!) Spring and it’s snowing again! Mother Nature’s April Fool’s joke!
In the meantime, let’s remember that April is the start of Parkinson’s Awareness Month world-wide. Let’s take that to heart and show people how we keep moving forward in the face of every challenge. It’s also April Fool’s Day today…just do something fun that no one expects of you!
“We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance!” – Japanese proverb
This week, Strength-in-Motion instructor, Kim Crowley welcomed 11 people to our new Thursday-morning class at the Beverly Council on Aging! After introductions, it wasn’t long before the music was playing in the background and we were engaged in energetic movements that targeted our major muscle groups…all while still seated! Resistance loop bands and floor “slider” discs functioned as our equipment, and now we know why the class is referred to as Strength-in Motion!
Then, while up on our feet and exercising our way toward the end of class time, Kim introduced us to a few Salsa dance moves! And we DID it! Great way to feel!
Click here to see descriptions about this and other Parkinson’s Fitness classes
Edgar A. Guest (born August 20, 1881 in Birmingham, England – died August 5, 1959 in Detroit, Michigan) was an English-born American poet popular in the first half of the 20th century. He was known as the “People’s Poet”. We liked his poem titled “Defeat” and hope you will find wisdom in its simplicity.
No one is beat till he quits,
No one is through till he stops,
No matter how hard Failure hits,
No matter how often he drops,
A fellow’s not down till he lies
In the dust and refuses to rise.
Fate can slam him and bang him around,
And batter his frame till he’s sore.
But she never can say that he’s downed
While he bobs up serenely for more.
A fellow’s not dead till he dies,
Nor beat till no longer he tries.
Our Contact Us page now refers to a new mailing address for reaching us. So that we can more easily interact with people and other organizations who communicate via the post office, we have changed the street address to reflect our office location.
Parkinson’s Fitness
c/o Linda & Keith Hall
63 1/2 Jefferson Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
Please make a note somewhere about the new information, as we enjoy hearing from you!
We’ve scheduled an Open House in September at the Lynn Fitness Center for people with Parkinson’s who want to learn how boxing is a great way to build stamina, strength, mental focus, balance, and agility.
