DPI Adaptive Fitness Training Center (located at the corner of Chain Bridge Road and Eaton Place in Fairfax) offers a Rock Steady Boxing Parkinson’s program on Mondays, Wednesday and Friday mornings beginning at 10:10 a.m., and on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ($25 per class). They also offer monthly rates and various membership options, as well as one-on-one training. Advanced sign-up is required. Call 877-264-5836 or e-mail DPIadaptivefitness@gmail.com
Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area (PFNCA) sponsors free Wellness Programs throughout Virginia. These include BIG Exercise for Parkinson’s classes held at INOVA Alexandria and Fair Oaks Hospitals, The Virginian (Fairfax), The Kensington (Falls Church), and Onelife Fitness locations in Reston, Woodbridge, Gainesville, Burke, Alexandria, and Ashburn. The Virginian also offers classes in Tai Chi, Dance for Parkinson’s, and Boxing for Parkinson’s. PFNCA’s Communication Club, to practice skills learned in LSVT BIG therapy, are held at INOVA Fair Oaks and Loudoun Hospitals, and The Kensington. Boxing for Parkinson’s programs are also held at Title Boxing locations in Springfield and Falls Church. All PFNCA sponsored classes are free, but in order to participate in their weekly or monthly exercise, communications or education programs you need to register annually. There is a nominal fee. You can call 703-734-1017 for more information. The Wellness Programs page provides links to contact information for each class. Note: The Virginian has some additional paperwork for you and your physician to fill out before you can participate in their programs.
I contacted Maria Malca, Fitness Center Manager at The Virginian for specifics on their offerings. Classes are 45 minutes long and are held every weekday morning starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Assembly Room. The last class ends at 11:00 a.m. She said all classes are open to PFNCA members. A few classes she highlighted:
1. The Art of Moving on Mondays at 10:00 a.m. is a mainly seated class that works with small plastic balls and foam noodles to help with hand movement and coordination.
2. Mindfulness on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. works with breathing and learning to relax tight muscles to help with anxiety.
3. Gentle Yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. can be done seated, or on a yoga mat (provided by The Virginian or bring your own). The class includes a breathing portion at the beginning and at the end with meditation. As noted above, before anyone can take classes at The Virginian, you need to complete the registration forms, including one clearing you for exercise from your physician. For further information, Maria can be reached at 703-385-0555 x 5290 or via e-mail mmalca@thevirginian.org
In addition to the PFNCA-sponsored exercise class, INOVA Fair Oaks offers a one hour BIG exercise class on Mondays at 1:00 p.m. Cost is $140.00 for an eight week session. Classes are held at 3580 Joseph Siewick Drive in the lower level conference room. Contact Yuliya Jackson at 703-391-3642 or e-mail yuliya.jackson@inova.org for more information, availability, and start date for the next session. Participants must have completed LSVT BIG somewhere to sign up for the class.
Parkinson Social Network (PSN) site has numerous exercise opportunities listed on their Keep Moving Page, including Rock Steady Boxing classes in Vienna and Sterling, a yoga therapy program, Dance for PD –for more information call 703-910-5175 or e-mail dance@bmdc.org.
Inova Well offers all sorts of mind and body classes classes at the Inova Joan and Russell Hitt Center for Healthy Living, 8100 Innovation Park Drive, including Dance for PD (although registration has closed for the next upcoming session), chair yoga, senior exercise classes, therapeutic massage, and more! E-mail myinovawell@inova.org or call 571-472-1401.
I will update as new classes are added. This information can also be found at Resource Links for Exercise and Other Classes.
OTHER RESOURCES:
One of our members shared this information: The Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s has a free upcoming webinar, Depression and Anxiety in Parkinson’s and How to Manage Them, on Monday, February 24, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Presenter is Dr. Gregory Pontone, Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology at John Hopkins. Full information and registration here.