Experience how yoga is empowering, playful, and healing for individuals with Parkinsons. In this class will learn how yoga can be adapted for Any Body, and how it can help improve flexibility, balance, strength, posture, focus, and more. This class begins seated with attention to the breath and whole body warm-ups, and ends with a guided relaxation.

Students may elect to transition to standing poses On Your Feet with the support of a chair or  practice the poses On Your Seat.

Deb Colling is a Personal Trainer, 500 Hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, Rock Steady Boxing Head Coach, Adaptive Yoga Teacher for Neuromuscular Disorders, Level 1 Stick Mobility Coach, Balance Matters certified, Urban Poling Certified, PWR! Moves Certified, and Certified in Parkinson’s Art of Expression. She has been in the fitness profession for more than 20 years. She began teaching to people with Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s plus disease in 2016.

Dr. Arena is a Professor and the Director of the Oakland University Physical Program. She has a robust research line examining the efficacy of physical therapist-led prevention-focused programming aimed at optimizing health and wellness among homebound and community dwelling older adults.  She practices clinically as a home healthcare physical therapist and was recently featured on WDIV Local 4’s “Good Health” sharing ideas for home modifications to prevent injury.

Dr. Jacqueline Scully is a Special Instructor in the Oakland University Physical Therapy Program and the coordinator of Oakland University’s Bridge the Gap Program.  She is a lead instructor in the program’s neurological sciences curricular track and practices clinically as a concierge physical therapist with a focus on individuals with neurological impairments.

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Vivian Costello is the Rehearsal Director and founding company member of Take Root, a professional modern dance company in residency at Oakland University.  Vivian is a 2013 graduate of Oakland University's B.F.A. program in Dance and is McEntire Pilates certified. 

There are a variety of ways Pilates can help counter the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Aside from building strength and flexibility, Pilates can improve balance, posture, and mobility. Breath is an important and vital tool within the method of Pilates as it not only helps promote healthy lung capacity and function, but also relaxes the body and mind.

Tai Chi is a “Moving Meditation”. Slow, gentle, flowing movements often drawn from the natural world are performed with great attention to how and when we breathe and to being mindful of how we move. Created thousands of years ago in China, QiGong is an older and simpler movement practice than Tai Chi and was created as a way to heal illness. Because movement, breath, and mindfulness are equally important in both tai chi I and qigong practice, a miraculous event occurs. We are present to the moment. Being in the moment washes away stress, anxiety, even pain. Being mindful of how we are moving opens the path to changes in posture, strength and balance that become cornerstones of improved health and wellness.

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Learn how a fun game of BrainSpeed Ball® is the ideal daily habit for individuals with Parkinson's.  Discover how playing for just a few minutes a day can help improve your balance, posture, focus, mood, and mobility.  This class is taught by a team of movement professionals under the leadership of Trent McEntire, BrainSpeed Ball® inventor.  Each participant will receive a FREE BrainSpeed Ball® to take home and continue playing!

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