Yoga4pd

Diary of a Yoga Therapist …

The downside of my job as a Yoga Therapist who specializes in Parkinson’s disease?

2nd funeral in a year.

But here’s the thing. Parkinson’s doesn’t kill you. As any neurologist will tell you, “You die with PD not of PD”.

So what’s that mean, I hear you ask.

It means that PD is not a fatal disease per se. Death usually occurs at an old age from another medical illness entirely. These are called “fatal complications”.

These typically include
👉falls due to imbalance and impaired gait
👉pressure ulcers due to increased immobility & muscle rigidity
👉pneumonia due to inability to swallow so food/saliva gets into the lungs causing aspiration
👉other infections such as UTIs, UTIs, and UTIs (get what I’m saying?)

This is such a sh*tty disease.
Take care of each other out there. 💙
Onward.



International Association of Yoga Therapists

Cue the Chicago Blues!!

Oklahoma Parkinson's Alliance just announced FREE Harmonica Zoom Classes For people with Parkinson's!

Learning harmonica alongside speech therapy may help Parkinson's patients with speech and saliva management. The Harmonica Parkinson's Project offers free Zoom classes twice a month — beginners welcome!

WHEN: Classes held on ZOOM at 9:00 PM CST (4pm Hawaii time) time the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.
Next class is July 28.

WHERE: Join the Zoom Meeting by clicking the link below.

WHAT: 45 minutes lessons for Parkinson’s patients and care partners. Just bring a Harmonica in the Key of C, available at music stores or amazon.

Join the Class here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87841433069?pwd=tEkZ8bbahOwPHUgabhQcNEiU5m7pZu.1

Are You Backed Up?
(I'm not referring to your iPhone)

You know that saying 'you are what you eat'? I respectfully disagree.
You aren't what you eat, you are what you don't eliminate.

Think on that. Any lingering funk in the small and large intestines gets backed up, recirculated, and reabsorbed - becoming part of you. What remains will be a contributing factor in your body's health or its demise.

One of my teachers of Ayurvedic medicine was fond of saying "Move your body, move your breath, move your bowels everyday".

Regular physical activity, even a 5-10 minute walk each day stimulates your intestinal muscles to work more effectively. Are you moving daily? Let's goooooooo!!!!!

I'm working with a new client who is afraid of the dark.

Not because he fears a boogie man is under the bed, but because he knows he's going to be riddled with anxiety and the inability to sleep. He becomes increasingly uneasy as daylight wanes, he literally tracks the time until it's dark.

For people with Parkinson's disease, there are many factors that contribute to insomnia; motor symptoms, side effects of medication, mood disorders, a jacked up circadian rhythm are just a few.

This convo took place at our third session.

Him: You know that breathing stuff we do at the end of our sessions? I really, really like that.
Me: That's great to hear, tell me more.
Him: I started trying it at night and it makes the dark more bearable.

💙

What They're Saying ...

"Before I started taking triphala, constipation -- mixed with occasional diarrhea (two sides of the same problem) -- was an ongoing issue despite fairly high levels of fiber. Now with triphala, it's very rare that I have any trouble. It's worth mentioning I've tried other formulations of triphala; none works as well as the Triphala Rose. Also, I've found that it's important to stay hydrated throughout the day, so I make sure that I keep my water bottle nearby - and use it."

~ Happy Client with a Happy Colon

Order Triphala Rose here: https://lisabrackenwellness.com/product/triphala/
Local? PM me and we'll arrange drop off so you can save shipping costs!

Thank you for being part of the community. 🙏🏼

If you know someone with Parkinson's, invite them to sign up for my monthly Yoga for Parkinson’s newsletter. It offers support that's grounded in yoga therapy, the latest research, and a deep understanding of how the body can adapt and thrive at every stage of life.

Sign up here 👉 https://mailchi.mp/a1d1398bc1f2/yoga4pd

💩 Meet Your Bowel Bestie!!

An old school remedy for our modern maladies, Triphala is recommended and used more than any other Ayurvedic herbal formulation available.

Triphala offers natural, non-habit-forming intestinal support. It is widely praised for its unique ability to strengthen muscular activity of your large intestine (peristalsis) and cleanse the system, while simultaneously replenishing and nourishing the colon.

🕺 support regularity
🕺 enhance digestion
🕺 promote a healthy gut microbiome

*And since more studies are pointing to the belief that Parkinson's begins in the gut, you definitely want to look after your microbiome.

Order yours through the link below.
If you're in the Tulsa area, PM me and we'll schedule a drop off so you can save on shipping!

👉https://lisabrackenwellness.com/product/triphala/

Thank you to the Choctaw Casinos & Resorts for the generous donation to the Oklahoma Parkinson's Alliance!!
This is great news, and it's how the good work gets done. 💙

Choctaw Casino & Resort - Durant made a $10,000 donation to the Oklahoma Parkinson's Alliance as a part of the casino's "3 Months. 3 Millionaires." promotion.

The donation was made by Choctaw Casino & Resort - Durant on behalf of its June 2026 winner, Douglas C., from Norman, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2010.

Douglas said he benefited from speech classes offered by the Oklahoma Parkinson's Alliance after his diagnosis. With Choctaw's donation, he looks forward to reconnecting with our organization, which has helped so many people living with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson’s + Hallucinations
Not everyone w/PD experiences hallucinations but for those who do, it can be extremely unsettling.

The first time I worked with a client who had them, he was quite open with me about how often they came, what he saw, how it made him feel. He occasionally experienced them during our sessions.

One (mild) exchange went like this; sitting across from each other, I saw him stiffen and stare intently over my left shoulder.

Me: who do you see?
Him: three men, don’t turn your head, act natural.
Me: ok. Anyone you recognize?
Him (leaning in, whispering): no…
Me (leaning in, also whispering): do they appear friendly?
Him: they don’t appear unfriendly but I’d like them out of my home.
Me: would you like me to show them to the door?
[silence, his gaze still fixed over my shoulder]
Me: what would you like me to do?
Him: just be yourself.
Me: ok, shall we continue our session?
Him (he visibly relaxes): yes.

The men vanished as quickly as they’d arrived.
What a crummy disease.