Wellness Works Program: Managing Parkinson's Disease

The Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center at BIDMC has developed a modified Tai Chi Wellness Program for individuals with Parkinson's disease. Our instructors for this program teach our participants many of the traditional gentle movements and mind-body exercises associated with Tai Chi while also utilizing many specific movements focused on improving Parkinson's disease symptoms. The program features weekly individual classes that are designed to meet the needs of individuals with Parkinson's disease who will be able to stand for the entire 60-minute class.

If you have any questions about Tai Chi classes, please email Michelle Guo.

Upcoming Events

This class focuses on the four components of fitness: cardio, strength, flexibility and balance. Exercises are specifically designed to gradually improve your overall fitness level and improve the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Each participant can go at their own pace, and modifications are offered for each exercise. The program is hosted by Anita Luck, a Movement Specialist working in fitness since she stepped off the stage as a professional ballet dancer in 1988. She joined Wellness Works as a Boot Camp instructor in 2016 and is happy to share her knowledge in working with people who have PD.

If you have any questions about Boot Camp & Balance classes, please email Michelle Guo.

Upcoming Events

PD Golf classes are not available at this time.

BIDMC is proud to partner with Rock Steady Boxing to provide this popular, high-energy wellness program.

We will use the team teaching approach offered by Cheryl Marconi, owner and coach of LIFT PERSONAL TRAINING, and her co-coach Max Marcoux. As an experienced Certified Rock Steady Boxing instructor, Cheryl understands Parkinson’s inside and out: her husband was diagnosed with PD and fights hard using fitness to hold back the disease. Cheryl and Max are inspired by helping one person at a time in their energized RSB classes with the philosophy that physical strength builds confidence and emotional resolve. To find out more about Cheryl and Max check out the news story “Meet Trailblazer Cheryl Marconi”.

Upcoming Events

Yoga is an adaptable practice, with both functional and psychosocial benefits that can be suited to a variety of abilities. Yoga moves all the joints and muscles in your body. It improves posture, balance and gait. Yoga deepens your breathing and your body awareness. It gives you greater physical confidence and peace of mind. With creative support of props like chairs and the ballet barre, simple postures can be accessible and enjoyable to most everyone. We offer two options for yoga.

Dynamic Yoga

Students in this class need to feel comfortable standing and getting up and down from the floor. We will practice standing poses to strengthen legs and spinal support along with twists, gentle back bends and balancing poses. Class will begin and close with awareness practices and time to rest and integrate the movement.

If you have any questions about Dynamic Yoga classes, please email Michelle Guo.

Upcoming Events

Yoga with Chairs

This class is designed for people who need more postural support and may use walkers and wheelchairs to get around. The class will include many of the same movements as the Monday class but at a slower pace and with more support. Students will begin class on the floor but will need to be able to come to a standing position during the class utilizing the support of a chair. Partners and care givers are encouraged to take the class also.

If you have any questions about Yoga with Chairs classes, please email Michelle Guo.

Upcoming Events

Community and Meditation: Self-Care for Care Partners

Reduce stress, build community and practice self-care. This class is part support group, part meditation practice, and is for anyone who identifies as a care partner for a person with PD. We begin each meeting with time to share experiences, challenges, and rewards of being a care partner. We end each session with a period of seated, guided meditation. The meditation practice is awareness based and requires no previous experience.

This program is for adult children of a parent with Parkinson's disease. We are offering this educational opportunity for adult children to meet the members of the PD treatment team, ask questions, and talk with other adult children. We know that PD affects the whole family, but what does this mean for adult children?

Please contact us for more information and upcoming dates.

What sparks your artistic talent? How do you continue to express your creativity while managing PD? Join us for a virtual meeting via Starleaf to discuss art and creativity as a means of coping. Artists of all kinds are welcome to discuss, network and share together. To register, email Michelle Guo.

See Our Work

Art Calendar

Watch our Calling All Artists 2023 video

General Meeting

This program for artists living with Parkinson’s Disease welcomes newcomers. Join us to network and socialize. We will share updates on spring MFA tours and Art workshops with Mass College of Art. Light Refreshments will be served.

Virtually Tour the Museum of Fine Arts

Join us for a free, virtual interactive tour and discussion of artwork currently housed at the Museum of Fine Arts. Space is limited.

For and About Women is a virtual networking group that brings together women with Parkinson’s. Some participants are relatively newly diagnosed while others have been living with PD for longer. The supportive environment of monthly meetings allows women to share experiences. Women within the group discover they share similarities as well as differences in terms of the impact of PD and how each member copes. Meetings promote learning about issues unique to women.

Participants share “life hacks” and strategies for daily living. They provide new and different perspectives with understanding and a sense of humor. Periodically guest speakers are featured who offer their expertise on relevant topics. Group meetings encourage and empower participants to live well with PD and build community within a strong group of women.

Upcoming Events

Did you know there are many exercises you can do seated to improve/maintain strength, range of motion/flexibility, breathing and voice? Join Anita Luck, functional movement specialist and experienced PD exercise instructor for exercising seated in the comfort of your home. A few standing exercises will be suggested in each class, but are not mandatory.

If you have any questions about Moving Through PD classes, please email Michelle Guo.

Upcoming Events

This orientation session is offered to learn about the broad range of services and programs offered through BIDMC's PD Center of Excellence. It is open to patients and care partners new to our center as well as anyone else interested in learning more. Sessions are run by Lissa Kapust, LICSW, our Social Work Coordinator and Wellness Works Program Coordinator.

Email Michelle Guo with any questions or to register.

Upcoming Events

Wellness Works is collaborating with Central Rock Gym in Watertown, MA. We are excited to announce that we will begin to bring indoor Rock Climbing to PWP and Care Partners! There is literature to demonstrate that this form of aerobic exercise may have benefits for PWP helping with symptoms such as bradykinesia, tremor and rigidity. Safety of the climber is maintained by the use of the harness and belay system. Importantly, rock climbing is fun and builds community; another way of “fighting back." The literature on Rock Climbing and PD has descriptions of the success of PD Rock Climbers who accomplished goals they didn’t think possible, building confidence.

Please email Michelle Guo for more information.