Promoting Abilities
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Keep Moving
P
arkinson’s New Zealand Charitable Trust organises many different exercise groups for people with Parkinson’s as exercise is of huge benefit to those who are living with the condition. Exercise groups include walking groups, singing and voice training, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, Tai Chi, ballroom dancing and Movement for PD classes. Counterpunch, which involves boxing training, has recently been added to the weekly groups provided in the Northland area. Maureen “Stinger” Slako, a client of Parkinson’s New Zealand, has been attending one of these exercise classes and the benefits are immediately noticeable. “I shuffle in but I walk out,” she says. Her goals are to walk better and regain strength in her voice. The small group meets each week to don boxing gloves and practice jabbing
Maureen “Stinger” Slako, loves her weekly boxing sessions. Photo: Donna Russell
at punching bags. Run by coach Henrietta Sakey, the exercises are designed to stimulate the areas of the brain and body that are commonly affected by Parkinson’s. The session is loud and there is lots of moving around. Henrietta starts the group off with squats and shoulder rolls with a few group exercises before quickly assigning each person to a punching bag and calling out the sequences they have to remember.
Counterpunch coach Henrietta Sakey leads off a session with Parkinsons New Zealand clients. Photo: Donna Russell
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Henrietta says the exercise regime is all about big movements and filling the lungs and using their voices. “With Parkinson’s, everything restricts and movements become smaller and they tend to lose their speech. “Here everything is designed to be big,’’ she says, as she instructs the group to yell out loudly as they count through another sequence of punches. Geoff “Ali” Skudder was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about 10 years ago and is also a client of Parkinson’s New Zealand. He loves the sessions as it helps his strength and brain co-ordination skills. He also does Tai Chi and plays golf using a golf cart to help him get around the course. “This is a great workout. We get to exercise every part of the body and it challenges me mentally.” Ken “Tyson” Gavin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about 16 years ago and says exercise is an important part of his day. “I do exercises of some sort every morning. It’s important to keep moving. If I stand still, with Parkinson’s it is difficult to get moving again.’’ More details about the importance of Parkinson’s Specific Exercise and information about Parkinson’s can be found at www. parkinsons.org.nz
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