5 benefits of yoga for Parkinson’s Disease
I’ve been working with Parkinson’s UK delivering chair yoga classes to people with Parkinson’s Disease since 2020. I have seen firsthand the benefits yoga and breathwork can bring to physical and non-motor symptoms.
To celebrate World Parkinson’s Day, I’m sharing a few of the best yoga postures for people with Parkinson’s (PD) with a focus on the functional improvements they can bring.
According to the WHO, 8.5 million individuals were diagnosed with PD in 2019 and as the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world, this is expected to double by 2050, says Parkinson’s Europe.
Motivated by my Mum who was diagnosed with PD over 15 years ago, I’m passionate about bringing the benefits of mindful movement and breathwork to more people with movement disorders. Please share with anyone you think might benefit from this.
If you want to know more about how yoga can support symptoms of PD, check out my Online Chair Yoga class or contact me to book a free discovery call.
1. Yoga can help with posture
A stooped posture, rounded shoulders and a forward lean are characteristic of PD. These features can impact postural stability and the respiratory muscles, hindering breathing, the ability to take deep breaths and even the capacity to speak loudly.
Recommended postures: Cobra, sphynx, cat-cow and camel (usually adapted for the chair) can promote a more open chest, retract the shoulder blades and encourage flexion and extension of the spine. This study showed yoga twice weekly for 8 weeks helped to improve motor functions, postural instability and functional gait.
2. Yoga can help with stability and balance
Postural instability and balance issues are one of the four cardinal symptoms of PD (along with bradykinesia, tremor and rigidity/stiffness). This can affect an individual’s quality of life, especially if imbalances lead to falls.
Recommended postures: Many studies have shown the positive impact of yoga on balance and postural stability. This study concluded that yoga (and tai chi) could be a therapeutic intervention to optimise balance and mobility in patients with PD. Postures I use with my students include tree and mountain poses (adapted with chair support), heel-toe raises and single-leg work.
3. Yoga can help with stiffness, rigidity and flexibility
Bradykinesia, which means slow movement, accompanied by freezing, tight muscles, stiff joints and rigidity are common presentations in PD. This can affect posture, balance, voluntary and involuntary movement and even speech.
Recommended postures: Dynamic movements and stretches can loosen tight muscles, reduce stiffness and increase the range of motion in joints. If combined with movements that require coordination, we can activate the cerebellum (area of the brain responsible for balance, movement and coordination), which will further support an individual’s stability when mobile. Movements such as high knees-marching, cross-body reach and pull, arm swings, and tense-and-release body scans, are all regular features in my classes for this reason.
4. Yoga can help with breathing
Laboured, shallow, short and restricted breaths are common presentations in people with PD. This could be caused by medication wearing off, bradykinesia in the respiratory muscles, postural issues or anxiety..
Recommended breathing exercises: slow, controlled breathing can aid in relaxation and stress release. We can also increase breath strength through techniques such as abdominal breathing to work the diaphragm and gentle breath retention to strengthen lung capacity. This study suggested that combining breathwork with movement can be more beneficial than just movement alone.
5. Yoga can help with anxiety
Up to 40% of people with PD are thought to experience an anxiety disorder and up to 50% may experience some form of depression, according to Parkinson’s Foundation. In 2018, Parkinson’s UK ran an inquiry on access to psychological support for people with PD due to how common symptoms of anxiety and depression are. These non-motor symptoms are often undiagnosed or overlooked but can impact overall health and quality of life, so should not be ignored.
Recommended yogic tools: This meta-analysis of ten studies and 359 participants showed the benefits of yoga in reducing anxiety and depression. Practices I use with my students include balanced breathing, humming bee breath (Bhramari), mindfulness practices and yoga nidra, which is a guided relaxation to release physical and mental tension.
Want to find out more or work with me? Visit my classes and sessions page or contact me to book a free discovery call.