PELLA, Iowa – April 11, 2016 – April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month and it is estimated that 1.5 million Americans seek a cure. Hearthstone, a Ministry of Wesleylife, serving Pella and surrounding communities, will soon be offering a fitness program designed to empower people with Parkinson’s disease to take control of the disease with daily exercise and to maintain quality of life. The program will be based on the Delay the Disease™ curriculum.
Marlene Bryan, a restorative therapy nurse who coaches Jefferson Place residents at Hearthstone, recently became a certified Delay the Disease instructor, which allows her to teach the community-based fitness program in Pella. “Attending the course helped broaden my understanding of Parkinson’s disease with respect to exercise and physical therapy. The training was filled with optimism, energy, courage and hope; and I’m anxious to bring this program to Hearthstone,” said Bryan.
Bryan joins Natasha Nikkel, Wellness Director, as the second Hearthstone team member with this specialization. The two are passionate about the fact that Parkinson’s disease can be managed with daily exercise, putting those living with the disease back in control. The key focus of the program is to help participants understand —This disease does NOT define you!
The Delay the Disease program is founded on evidence-based, structured exercise routines focused on strength training and correcting disease-specific symptoms. Through the program, participants work toward retraining the mind and body. Later this spring, Hearthstone will announce the dates of classes open to the public. For information about the class or the monthly Parkinson’s support group, please contact Natasha Nikkel at 641-628-1244 or nnikkel@wesleylife.org.
