Tag: fitness

Disability

Finding Strength in Movement: My Journey With the YMCA Parkinson’s Program

OUR BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGES

I’ve always been someone who enjoys learning how the brain works. Living with cerebral palsy has made me curious about anything related to the brain and movement. But I never expected to be invited to join a YMCA program designed for people with Parkinson’s disease. At first, I was scared to participate because I didn’t know much about Parkinson’s. But then I thought, what the hell, and decided to try it. What I learned surprised me—our disabilities are more similar than I ever imagined.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog called “My Path to Peace Starts at the YMCA – Our Beautiful Challenges”, where I talked about ending my week with Tai Chi and meditation. Then I wrote “Fire Up Mondays – Our Beautiful Challenges,” describing how I kick off my week at the YMCA. So, what happens during the rest of the week? Well, besides my Monday and Friday routines, I’m also there on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a class called Movement for Parkinson’s Disease.

I don’t have Parkinson’s, but I do have cerebral palsy—and this class has been surprisingly perfect for me.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

For anyone who may not know, Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, coordination, balance, and sometimes mood and thinking. It develops when the brain cells that make dopamine—a chemical responsible for smooth, controlled movement—begin to break down.

Despite being different conditions, Parkinson’s and cerebral palsy share some similarities. They’re both neurological, and both benefit from similar types of physical activity. Many of the exercises in this class support balance, reflexes, strength, and overall mobility—things that help both disabilities in many of the same ways.

What Is Movement for Parkinson’s Disease?

The program teaches that “physical activity seems to slow the disease process, decreasing pain associated with Parkinson’s Disease. Exercise through gentle, deliberate movements can help prolong independent mobility, improve sleep, mood, memory, and overall quality of life.”

Every month, our instructor changes up the routine, but we consistently focus on balance, mobility, stretching, and—even unexpectedly—voice work.

You might be wondering, Why voice?
As Parkinson’s progresses, many people experience softer speech. When I learned this, I joked with the class that I’m the complete opposite—my voice gets louder as I get older because of cerebral palsy!

Some months, we move through 30–40-second stations designed to target different mobility challenges, like bending, balancing, sit-to-stands, core work, and light weights. Honestly, it feels a lot like the physical therapy I grew up doing.

More Similar Than Different

The more time I spend in this program, the more I see the parallels between Parkinson’s and cerebral palsy—not just in symptoms, but in how movement improves them. The workouts benefit both conditions in incredibly similar ways. And even though we all come from different experiences, we move together with the same purpose: to stay strong, stay mobile, and stay connected.

In many ways, this class has become another part of my beautiful challenge—a reminder that movement isn’t just physical. It’s a community. It’s courage. It’s learning. And it’s choosing to show up, even when you’re scared.

Disability

FIRE UP MONDAYS

OUR BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGES

Last week, I shared about My Path to Peace Starts at The YMCA. This week, I’d like to discuss Fire Up Monday. Mondays are a choice between two very different classes: Pilates Mat or AOA (Active Older Adult). Both occur simultaneously, and each offers its own benefits.

The AOA class is chair-based, but don’t let that fool you—it’s no easy workout. It combines cardio, weights, and stretching, and whether you’re sitting or standing, you’re moving your body in ways that make a difference. Out of all the classes I take, AOA is the one that gets my heart rate up the most. I’ve been going off and on for a while, and every time I do, I feel the impact. The only downside? It’s tough to get into because spots fill up so quickly. I wish I could take it more often.

The other option is Pilates Mat. I discovered this class almost by accident. One day, I came to the YMCA just to use the fitness center, but I ended up there early and noticed the Pilates class about to start. A trainer encouraged me to ask the instructor if I could join, and just like my Tai Chi experience, she welcomed me right away. She was quick to adapt the exercises so I could participate. Instead of being on the floor, I sit in a chair with a ball behind my back and between my knees to work the same muscles as the others on mats. After that first class, I felt like I had just finished a full hour of physical therapy—I could hardly move the next day, but in the best way.

I genuinely enjoy both classes. Each one challenges me differently, and both bring unique benefits to my mind and body. Mondays may start out tough, but they always leave me feeling fired up.

Mondays remind me that strength comes in many forms. No matter which class I take, I walk out stronger than when I walked in—and that’s what keeps me fired up.

Disability

EMBRACING THE WEAKS PARTS OF MYSELF

OUR BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGES

I have been working on myself for the last couple of months. I know that the more weight I have on myself, the more the CP takes over, and the less independent I become. I hate to admit it, but I did go on a drug to help with another health issue, and it helps with my hunger craving. While this isn’t the end-all to my weight issues, being on the drug has slowed me down from overeating.

My weight is one of the weaker parts of who I am. I want to acknowledge and improve the areas of myself that need improvement, and strengthen them. My cerebral palsy was the weakest part of me. I thought I was stuck feeling that way for the rest of my life. Then, something clicked in me: If I befriended the weaker parts of myself, I could start to trust and embrace them. The first place to start was my disability. I had to merge who I was with who I wanted to be. It took me most of my life to realize that I had to overcome my challenges. Once I found strength, I started to feel free. By embracing my disability, I became best friends with this side of myself. I would now like to become friends with my weight.

It didn’t take overnight to become friends with my disability; it was a long process, just as it will be a long process to be comfortable with my weight. I know I need to be a healthy weight to help me maintain independence. I have lost a small amount already because I can get dressed better and my clothes are more comfortable; this is a small step. Steps are better than a big leap because no matter how long they take, they build the foundation for the outcome.

After building the foundation for losing weight, I also need to create a foundation for living on a budget. Life is getting so expensive, and like so many on disability, I live on a small budget. 

I have never been good with money. The next diet I need to go on is a financial diet. I’m now trying to learn how to make a budget that I can stick to. It has been hard because it means cutting out luxuries that make me feel happy, like going out to lunch or getting an iced hot chocolate. Although I miss these things, the real reward is that I’m saving money and I’m cooking at home, making healthier choices.

It’s not just about one thing here and there, but about all of these things added up. Every day that my clothes fit better and I have more mobility is a success. Every day that I can enjoy a walk (for free) or cook a meal at home is a success. Over time, all of these small victories add up to give me control over my life.

Disability

HEALTHY YOU, MORE INPENDENT YOU

OUR BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGES

I have been working on my weight and mental health for the last few weeks. I have also been going to a nutritionist for the previous few months, and it has been going well. But, I can do a lot better.  When you have cerebral palsy or anything else that impairs your mobility, the less you weigh the better your mobility becomes. I have been battling my weight for what seems to be my whole life. I’m now at the point where if I don’t do anything about it, I’m going to lose my mobility, which means that I will lose my independence. When you have mobility impairments, your hopes and dreams revolve around becoming independent, no matter how that looks for you. 

For many people, independence means living alone, with or without PCAs or aids. For others, independence means getting to live their own life while sharing a home with family members. However it looks, having as much mobility as possible can enhance how much you’re able to do.

I have always been independent, and my family and friends have always encouraged me to do things for myself when I can. Four years ago, that independence became the ultimate freedom when I moved out of my family house and I started living independently in my own place. Living independently has always been my ultimate goal. Now, to keep my independence, I need to be in shape physically and mentally.  

My independence looks like having PCAs five days a week to clean and help maintain the apartment. I have a medical alert bracelet and use accessibility programs like Siri and a video doorbell to help me along the way. I also have an accessible shower that’s adapted to my needs. I take public transportation when I need to get out, and make the most out of accessible vehicles that can accommodate me. 

Moving out during the pandemic lined up with new ways to be independent even with limited mobility. We saw a surge in programs like DoorDash and curbside pickup. People also began to socialize via video chats, bringing the world to us.

For the first year and a half to two years, I was shut in because of COVID-19. This was one of the best times of my life. When I say it was the best time of my life, I don’t mean because the world was in crisis. I just mean that the world became more available to us at the touch of a keyboard.

Now that Covid isn’t on the news all the time, people talk about positive changes that came from it, including the accessibility of food delivery and pickup options, as well as maintaining video chat with loved ones and friends. I’m a silver linings person, so I agree. 

But like with all good things, there are risks. With all the easy access to food, it’s easier to get nutritious food, but it’s also easy to get the junk food I’m craving with a few swipes on my phone. However, I was doing well for the first two years, and now I need to get back on track in the new year. I was able to lose forty-fifty pounds at the start of the pandemic. Now, I’ve put that back on with interest.

I don’t want to give up my independence in favor of yummy snacks like donuts and chips and popcorn chicken. I’m also dealing with the fact that I’m more social now that the pandemic is over, and when I get home, I’m too tired to meal prep, so I grab what’s quick and usually deep fried.

I need to balance my independence with healthy eating and make meal prep a priority. My independence is who I am. I’m at the point where I’m the only one who can help myself with eating the right things. I am trying, but I know I can do better. I have lost close to ten pounds in the last month. I have also been going to a nutritionist. I like going to her even though I usually don’t like visiting a nutritionist. This nutrition is just there to listen and make goals with me, and that’s what I want because she is not forcing anything on me.

I need to force myself to eat better. I know I can sometimes get lazy and don’t want to make the effort, but I need to do it so I don’t lose my independence. That is the one thing in my life that I worked so hard to gain and that I don’t want to lose. In my life, I have worked so hard to overcome so many things, but for some reason, losing weight is probably the hardest thing I have to overcome. I have overcome weight before. To lose weight, I needed to work through this block in myself that says that I can’t do this. 

I know what will happen to me if I don’t lose weight, but I also know what will happen to me if I do lose the weight and know what happens if I keep gaining weight. If I keep gaining weight, I will lose my independence. I will have to rely on more people for help; I will be in a wheelchair or worse. If I do lose weight, I will gain more independence. I won’t have to rely on others that much to help me.

Everytime I lose weight I get obsessed with number on the scale. At this point in my life, it’s not the number I should be obsess over. It’s about mobility and range of movement.