By Elizabeth Grover
As part of our ongoing review of exercise programs available in our area, we turn this week to foreverfitness. This exercise organization was founded by Sarah Palmer, and she has a staff of four, all of whom are highly trained. (Several are physical therapists, all have PWR! Moves training and Sarah has a master’s in exercise physiology.)
foreverfitness offers PD-specific exercise programs that use the latest research, thorough training and education and years of experience to help people with Parkinson's combat their symptoms. These can include stooped posture, balance and weight-shifting problems, stiffness and rigidity, stepping and gait problems and fine motor coordination. To address these issues, the PD-specific workouts focus on intensity, amplitude and functional exercise that incorporates all areas that PD affects (fine motor skills, voice, breath, cognition, facial expression, dual tasking, attention, and focus). Sarah says she follows the recently developed Parkinson Foundation's Exercise Guidelines (she was even on the national panel that helped develop these guidelines!), and she includes the four domains of exercise recommended – aerobics, strength training, balance, agility and multi-tasking, and stretching – in every class.
Parkinson’s-specific classes at foreverfitness include PWR! Moves, Rock Steady Boxing, PWR! Circuit, Cardio, Brain Games and a new FallProof Balance Class. One-to-one personal training is also available. Sarah says, “We try to focus on exercises that will help our clients the most. We have the tools and knowledge to challenge those areas and help clients to go beyond what they might self-select on effort. We stay current on research and try to implement what is shown to be most effective in the effort to delay the disease progression.” Sarah’s work as one of the faculty for the PWR! Moves Instructor Certification Workshop Course and as a volunteer with the Parkinson's Foundation keep her tuned in to the latest information about Parkison’s and exercise and in touch with colleagues around the world.
Joanne Clifton has been working out with foreverfitness since she was first diagnosed 7 years ago. She says that the workouts are fun and that they challenge her to work harder. Joanne finds the Zoom classes most convenient, although she points out that there is also a wonderful gym filled with lots of equipment. She finds the instructors are very helpful and good at offering modifications for any exercise. Sarah is great at keeping clients updated on upcoming programs in the PD community. In addition, the classes are a great place to meet new friends.
Rodney Stucky started with foreverfitness more than six years ago and has been very pleased. Every workout class is very well organized and progressive, including excellent attention to warmups and cooldowns. At first, he was able to only schedule one class a week, but now, thanks to the Zoom possibilities, he has upped that to 3 classes a week and occasionally more. In addition to the live classes, there is also a video library of classes that can be accessed 24/7. Rodney feels that the exercises he does have helped him directly with his PD symptoms. Recently, for example, his quick reaction time helped prevent what could have been a very bad fall. His exercise focus on PD-specific exercise played a major role in his successful management of the situation.
I (Elizabeth Grover) have been working out with Sarah for more than fifteen years (even before she had classes). I currently work out one-on-one once a week and attend 2 to 4 classes a week, some in person and some by Zoom. From the start Sarah has been exceptional at meeting me where I am, working me out in way that pushes me just enough, and understanding when my body does not work perfectly. I am doing pretty well for someone who has been diagnosed for 25 years, and I credit Sarah and her great knowledge, training, instinct and commitment to keeping me moving.
To put that expertise to work to help you focus on PD-specific exercise, call or text Sarah at 513-404-1918.