Thanks to a generous grant from IyengarYoga.org, the Milwaukee Yoga Center was able to provide workshops and yoga classes to a large group of Parkinson's patients. Milwaukee, Wisonsin is home to the largest Parkinson's research center in the nation. The grant enabled MYC to bring in senior Iyengar teachers to run workshops and training sessions for MYC teachers and assistants. Gabriel Halpern pf Chicago Circle, kicked off the Parkinson's Project with a spirited workshop Saturday February 1, 2003. Twenty-six Parkinson's patients and 10 care providers were introduced to Ihengar yoga during a 1 1/2 hour class specially designed for their needs. Patients came in wheel chairs, walkers, supported by canes and under their own steam. Some were curious, some were skeptical, but all hoped for new techniques to alleviate pervasive manifestations of the disease such as rigidity, slowness, balanace problems and restricted motion. Participants ranged in age from 57 to 91 years old!

The IyengarYoga.org grant not only enabled Parkinson's patients to receive the gift of Iyengar yoga, but teachers and senior students were given valuable training by senior Iyengar teachers. Before the workshop, Gabriel met with 15 of Milwaukee Yoga Center teachers and senior students who acted as assistants during the workshop. Among the assistants was Dr. Volkman, Clinical Pharmacologist at the Parkinson's Center at Aurora Sinai Medical Center. Although Dr. Volkman practices in Milwaukee, WI he is a resident of Chicago and a yoga student at Chicago Circle. Dr. Volkman originally approached Gabriel about doing yoga for Parkinson's patients in Milwaukee. Gabriel contacted the MYC director and through funding of IyengarYoga.org, the project was launched.

The following week, Chris Saudek, senior Iyengar teacher from The Yoga Place in LaCrosse, WI and her assistant Laurence Courtier came to Milwakee and spent Thursday, Feburary 6 conducting an indepth training session for teachers and assistants. Chris Saudek, who is a licensed physical therapist as well as a senior Iyengar insturctor has first hand experience with yoga for Parkinson's patients because her husband has been diagnosed with Parkinson's.

The day after the training session, Chris and Laurence led two classes for the Parkinson's patients. The original group of twenty six patients were split in to two groups. Assistants were able to put their training to use under the watchful gaze of Chris and Laurence. Parkinson's students went through a series of poses to improve their motor skills, balance and range of motion as well as supported reclining poses to decrease stress and help with relaxation. It was phenomenal to see students with noticeable tremors relax in savasana. All the students experienced a quieting of their tremors and in some cases, students were tremor free by the end of savasana.

Since those training workshops, MYC director, Susan Goulet and 10 assistants have donated their time and conducted 4 more 1 1/2 hour classes. Despite inclement weather, class sizes ranged from 22-26 Parkinson's patients and 8-10 care givers.

Many students have already set up yoga space in their homes for their practice. MYC is producing a booklet with photos showing the poses done in class and how the poses can be adapted for home practice. Many patients have expressed a wish to continue the class. Plans are underway to make the Parkinson's class a permanent offering at MYC.

All who have participated in the Parkinson's project agree that it has been an amazing experience. The spirit of the Parkinson's patients has touched all the instructors and assistants. Regardless of the stage of disease and the difficulties the patients had in walking, all the Parkinson's students were game enough to venture out in sometimes bitter cold Wisconsin weather and try something new in an unfamiliar place with unknown teachers, trusting that Iyengar yoga could help alleviate some of the symptons of their disease. Despite their age (many in their 70's and 80's) and illness, they had not given up. Every student put out great amounts of physical and mental effort and seemed to really enjoy the challenge of the activity and the comraderie. Many of the students surprised themselves (and at times MYC staff!) on what they could do and how much better they felt. Besides increased flexibility and balance there was also a noticable increase in self confidence among the students. After several classes, students who were able, would come in to the studio and set up props for themselves and the rest of their classmates. With each class they became more knowledgable and self sufficient.

We at the Milwaukee Yoga Center are deeply grateful to every member of IyengarYoga.org for their encouragement and suppport for this project. IyenarYoga.com's generous grant enabled us to bring in senior instructors to give workshops to Parkinson's patients and train MYC teachers and assistants in different techniques and beneficial poses for Parkinson's patients. This gift has made a tremendous impact on many people's lives and it continues to go on giving.