PWRGYM™ Enrichment Events
NEW EVENTS STARTING IN SEPTEMBER!!!!

DRUM MOVES

BIG DANCE MOVES

Extracurricular educational seminars and exercise classes for PWR!GYM™ members, their family/friends, and the entire community to address physiological, cognitive, social, and emotional function to optimize quality of life, and slow motor deterioration in people with PD.

• Otherwise Costs are $5 PWRGYM Members; $10 General Public
• Exceptions: Wi-HAB always free for all members;  Some non-member fees vary for special training events.

Program Descriptions ( 2010 MORE SOON)

Wii-Hab
Take this opportunity to PLAY games, sports, balance, activities and more with the Nintendo Wii. PLAY minds games to help improve your analytical, visual, memory and imagery skill with BIG BRAIN Academy. PLAY virtual tight rope, tennis, slalom skiing, bowling, hula-hoop, and boxing to challenge you balance and coordination, improve your reaction time and ability to plan your movements in advance. PLAY yoga to improve your posture and body awareness.

Let’s Dance!
Come shake you money makers and move with the group with line dancing routines like the Hustle, the PA Polka, the electric slide, the YMCA, the boot scoot boogie, and the hokie pokie. This is a real HOOT!

Drumming for Exercise, Stress Relief and Fun/Improve your Life Through RHYTHM!
There is growing evidence that drum circles can have many beneficial effects. Come participate in the magic of a drum circle. Exercise, sing, stimulate brain health and experience guided imagery drumming in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. No musical skill or experience needed.  Drums provided.

Go Flamenco!!!
Get in touch with your rhythms, ignite your soul, and experience a truly remarkable art form. Barbara Schuessler, a local Tucsonan has traveled the world to train and perform with artistic masters of flamenco. She continues to perform at festivals and private functions with her own dance troupe “Las Flamencistas” and as a solo artist. Teaching flamenco since 1995, Barbara has recently been sharing her passion and expertise as a tool to unlock hidden physical and emotional potential in people with physical challenges, including those with PD. If you can clap your hands and stamp your feet, you are ready for GO Flamenco.

Biofeedback: Getting in touch with your inner body.
Join Ann Baldwin, PhD for an introduction to biofeedback to improve physical, mental, and emotion function. Dr. Baldwin will present her results using biofeedback with Parkinson’s patients to help them improve their memory and fine motor control. Learn how special sensors that detect your heart rate can help you visualize your heart’s oscillations as you breathe. By interacting with a computer game you will experience how to alter your breathing and emotions to bring you back into a physical, mental, and emotional balance – so that you achieve a state of relaxed alertness. Equipment will be available for you to try.

Coaching4Caregivers/Friends/Family™
Do you want to understand how you can help prevent falls, perform transfers without anyone getting hurt, or “unfreeze” someone when their feet are “glued to the floor” or they have difficulty getting started. Do you have questions about symptoms, balance, difficult movement situations? Do you want to know how you can help someone with PD to perform everyday functional tasks more easily? walk bigger and faster? Maintain participation in their favorite outings, hobbies, recreational activities, set up a home gym? If so, bring your questions and join Becky in a unique program to teach you how to create an environment where everyday FUNctional Living is exercise! Wear shoes and clothes for moving and coaching!

PWRGYM™ BRAINGYM
Come participate in activities specially designed to be cognitively challenging and LOTS OF FUN!

Argentine TANGO!
Tango is not just a dance, but an emergence of emotions expressed through movement. New research suggests that Tango improves dynamic balance, postural control, movement initiation and termination, and decreases freezing episodes, and tremors in patients with PD – ALL through the inherent perturbations of the dance. We invite you to… Awaken your Body and Enrich your Soul with the rhythms found in this passionate social dance! Come join us with your friends and family. Appropriate for anyone who wants to express their inner child and play! (No Experience Necessary!)