Expert Tips for Yoga and Treatment of your Parkinson's Disease

We had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the experts who offers yoga to Parkinson’s patients. We picked her brain, and we present you with some tips about yoga and Parkinson’s.

Who is the author Kaitlyn Roland?

Kaitlyn Roland is a PhD neuroscientist who has an active research interest in Parkinson’s disease, dementia and yoga.  She has taught Yoga to PD patients in British Columbia and has worked with several neurologists in the field including Dr. Indu Subramanian. We had a chance to sit down and interview her, and we provide the highlights- which include tips for Parkinson’s and integration of yoga.

What is yoga and is it for me?

Yoga is an amazing therapy that can help with many aspects of Parkinson Disease; both motor and non-motor. People are often fearful of getting started in a yoga class since there is false portrayal of yoga in the media as being only for flexible, skinny ballet dancers. Yoga, on the contrary, is a very adaptable practice, with both functional and psychosocial benefits, that can be suited to a wide variety of abilities.

Yoga has become synonymous with holding and moving between a series of static postures (called asanas); however, this physical practice (called hatha yoga) is only one part of the larger lifestyle of the yoga framework that includes branches such as philosophy, chanting and selfless service. Hatha yoga combines physical postures to address strength, flexibility, balance and mind-body-breath connection(s). Breathing practices (pranayama) and meditation (mindfulness) are included to develop greater self-awareness and can have tremendous benefit on the mental state.

What do we know about the benefits of  yoga in Parkinson disease?

What studies do exist suggest modest benefits for:

1.      Mobility. The issue of mobility has important implications for fall prevention in PD. Yoga participation can improve functional mobility and influences how a person with PD walks.

2.      Balance. Balance training is an important component of PD therapy, as 40 percent of nursing home admissions are preceded by a fall. Research shows yoga-related improvements in balance (tandem, one-leg) and an associated decrease in a person’s fear of falling

3.       Strength. Gains in lower-body strength occur for PD patients following yoga practice and are associated with improved postural stability.

4.      Flexibility. Improvements in flexibility and range of motion (ROM) are important since rigidity is a common clinical manifestation in PD. Research shows improvements in flexibility/ROM of the shoulder, hip and spine. Stooped posture is common in PD and can be related to short spinal flexors and weak spinal extensors; improved shoulder and spinal flexibility from yoga supports a more upright posture.

5.      Mood & Sleep. The calming effect of yoga (by enhancing parasympathetic output) may lessen perceived stress, enhance relaxation, and benefit sleep in PD. Some forms of yoga especially with faster flowing movements, can increase the heart rate and be a good form of cardio which can help anxiety and depression.  Many patients with PD have apathy and fatigue which anecdotally are helped with yoga. Since the mind and the body are very connected in PD, any mental state benefits are tangibly translated into motor benefits.  A yoga class can offer a support group, improved confidence and self-efficacy. Caregivers can also participate and reap the rewards in the psychological realm as well. Social isolation and loneliness can be very detrimental to PWP and their carers. Yoga class  can help with forming social connections.

I have issues in the motor realm and not just non- motor symptoms in PD- can Yoga help me?

Yoga is both physically and cognitively engaging— by focusing on body-awareness during complex body positions. Yoga postures improve physical strength, flexibility, and balance. Yoga postures are also considered skill-acquisition exercises and can benefit our brains “thinking” patterns and processes to make our movements more efficient and effective. Yoga helps to increase muscle mass that is useable in everyday life by focusing on functional movements

How does yoga relate to mindfulness?

Yoga is actually a form of cueing/attentional training. The ability to move in PD is not lost; rather the brain mechanisms that initiate movement are defective. Attentional training/cueing may provide a non-automatic drive for movement, which may compensate for this faulty brain circuity and improve performance. Yoga breaks up complex sequences and/or postures into component parts, enabling a person to focus their attention on individual aspects of the posture and to improve performance. The focus inward on the body and breath are in essence a moving meditation— and so you can get many of the benefits of mindfulness with yoga as well.

Can Yoga help me with my forward bending posture?

Stooped posture in PD is common. It is attributed to shortened contracted spine flexors and weak extensors of the spine. Asymmetry of stiffness can lead to misalignment and can lead to misuse and disuse of muscles that can further worsen posture. Stretching these asymmetric muscles can help with moving more safely and avoiding injury.

What can yoga do?

·      Strengthens your core, especially your transverse abdominal muscles

·      Lengthens your psoas muscle… a thick muscle that runs from under your armpits to your hips and connects your legs to your torso.

·      Encourages gentle backbends to open upper spine

·      Creates self-awareness, and good habits, around how you hold your body in standing posture.

Yoga is in summary considered a positive activity for Parkinson’s disease patients and if you are looking for a form of exercise we believe yoga could possibly help you (health benefits + PD benefits).

To read more books and articles by Michael S. Okun MD check Twitter @MichaelOkun and these websites with blogs and information on his books and http://parkinsonsecrets.com/ #EndingPD #ParkinsonPACT #Parkinsonsecrets and https://www.tourettetreatment.com/