The Pros and Cons of Online Parkinson’s Disease Exercise Classes
For folks dealing with Parkinson's Disease, there's nothing more important than staying active with regular exercise. This is why when the pandemic happened, they were the first ones to feel the drastic change. But “when there’s a will, there’s a way”, right? Yup, that’s how human resourcefulness works and that’s exactly how online exercise classes became the next best thing for people with PD.
Now for those who were used to doing their routines at the gym, these online PD exercise classes might have felt like an unexplored territory. Which is understandable because if you’ve never tried working out with just a screen in front of you, you’d probably think "Nah, these online workouts will never feel like the real thing", too.
But despite the obvious physical difference from being present in the gym, doing online PD exercises has unique benefits to them. In fact, allow us to tell you a cool story about how online Parkinson’s disease exercises turned one amazing person’s life around.
An entrance to the world of online PD exercise classes
While scrolling through YouTube, Billie Mullins stumbles upon a video of someone doing the PWR! Moves. Ever since Billie was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in January of 2022, it became her habit to look for exercise videos to watch. That’s when she happens to click on one of the videos from Rogue in Motion.
"Hey, I can totally do this!" she thought. And so she did.
After watching a few more YouTube videos she knew she needed to find out more about these online PD exercise classes. And honestly, you would too if you immediately feel great after finishing the first one.
Now you know what’s one of the most fascinating things about the internet? It’s that it can connect your online activity across different platforms to remind you of your interests. And this is exactly what happened to Billie.
Hopping from YouTube to Facebook, Billie sees a Rogue in Motion advertisement. In that ad, Teri, one of the Rogue members is at home and Claire, Rogue’s founder and instructor, is in the gym and they’re doing PWR! Moves together through a video call. It looked fun. It looked challenging. And it looked like something that would help her take control of her condition even while she’s at home.
The ad was the final push that Billie needed. The next thing she knew she was signing up for a trial period and then for full membership to the online exercise program in April or May of that same year.
The pros of online exercise classes
Billie’s journey to a healthier life started with a video she stumbled across online. Now just in case you’re thinking, “Well, I’m still not sure if online exercise classes are as good as in-person classes.” It’s time to put yourself at ease.
Because despite the seemingly virtual beginnings, the positive effects of online Parkinson’s disease exercises are undeniable. In fact, we can show you three pros of online PD exercise programs from Billie’s story alone!
1. Online exercise classes can help you get started and get consistent with your routines, wherever you are in the world.
One major benefit of virtual classes is staying anywhere and still being able to exercise. Billie would go out in the garage or the carport to do her exercises consistently and it doesn’t affect the effectiveness of her routines at all.
By the way, have we mentioned that Billie is living in Archer City, Texas? It’s actually nearly 18 hours away from the in-person Rogue gym in Orange County, California! It’s amazing how the internet can connect many people and help with exercise. Thank goodness for innovation, right?
2. With online exercise classes, you can modify your routines at home to fit your needs.
One of the biggest hurdles that you may encounter when you’re doing exercise on your own is the feeling of uncertainty. Are you really doing this right? Is it okay to change things up a bit if it hurts your muscles? What if some routines need equipment and you don’t have them at home? These kinds of questions often stop people from continuing the online PD exercise classes.
But most routines online can be modified depending on your fitness level. In fact, there are certain exercises where you can use things at home as equipment. You can use chairs, bottles of water, scarves, and even pool noodles!
3. Your fellow online members can motivate you even if you’re miles away.
Unlike being in a gym with actual people exercising with you, sometimes you might feel like you’re on your own when you do online exercise classes. Billie had the same experience, too. What helped her continue was the sense of community and challenge that she received from her instructors and fellow members online.
One of the things that particularly motivated Billie was when Teri did a “jump rope challenge” where she would work on doing more jumps every day. Here’s Teri doing the challenge to show everyone.
At that point, Billie was out of shape and was a bit overweight so doing jump ropes was difficult for her. She wasn’t even sure if she could do five jumps. But she knew she wanted to take on the challenge, so she changed her diet and exercised. The result? She can now count up to 20 to 30 jumps and more!
The cons of online exercise classes
Now one of the most common hurdles that you might face when you’re new to online Parkinson’s disease exercises is how to motivate yourself because no one is there to make you want to exercise. But Billie counters that by keeping a daily reminder that another member posted, and it says:
“Discipline over regret. Exercise to stay independent.”
Billie keeps these words on her kitchen counter where her cookbooks and online exercise schedules are. And it’s pretty helpful because it reminds her that losing her mobility is the last thing she ever wants. She really needs to continue working on herself so she doesn’t regret anything in the end. Great motivation, huh?
So if you’re already doing online exercises for PD, or you’re just thinking of starting out, you can use the same quote to remind yourself of your goals. And you can watch Billie’s full interview here to get more motivation.
Billie’s story is proof that digital fitness is reshaping the Parkinson's exercise game. She’s been doing online exercise classes for a while now and one of the things that has significantly changed is how stronger and more agile she is.
You can check out the same online program she’s doing right here. Billie also brought her sisters to the Rogue gym for an exercise vacation to experience the in-person action in California! You can learn more about the in-person classes here.
So you see, one of the biggest things that the internet has given us is the ability to bridge the gap through online means. In a post-pandemic world, these virtual workouts aren't just backup plans – they can also be allies toward a healthier life and a sense of community wherever you are in the world.