Free Yoga Session Announced to Support People with Parkinson’s

A new partnership between Parkinson’s UK and the British Wheel of Yoga aims to make yoga more accessible for people living with Parkinson’s across the UK.

The collaboration will focus on increasing access to yoga classes and wellbeing support, while also helping yoga teachers better understand the condition through training and coaching.

Free online session planned for World Parkinson’s Day

To mark World Parkinson’s Day, the British Wheel of Yoga will host a free online yoga taster session on Friday 10th April.

The 45-minute chair-based class will be led by experienced teacher Richard Kravetz. It has been designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s, yoga teachers looking to adapt their sessions, and anyone with a connection to the condition.

The session will focus on safe, practical movements and breathing techniques that can be done while seated, aiming to support mobility and mindfulness.

A partnership focused on accessibility

The British Wheel of Yoga is the UK’s largest yoga charity and the National Governing Body for yoga in England and Wales. It provides training and classes for people of all ages and abilities.

Through this partnership, both organisations aim to ensure that more people living with Parkinson’s, as well as their relatives and carers, can access suitable yoga sessions.

Jed Parsons, Physical Activity Programme Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said:
“I am delighted that Parkinson’s UK has been able to agree the new partnership with the British Wheel of Yoga and to offer more opportunities for people living with Parkinson’s to access yoga classes across the UK.

“Yoga is shown to have many benefits for a person’s physical and mental wellbeing when they live with Parkinson’s and it can be a very accessible and adaptable way to live well with a long term health condition.

“We are encouraging everyone with a connection to Parkinson’s to join us on Friday 10 April to try the free seated yoga class and find out how the activity can help you live well at any time of the year.”

Diana O’Reilly, Chair at the British Wheel of Yoga, said:
“Yoga can be hugely beneficial for people with Parkinson’s. Gentle chair-based practices can be adapted for almost everyone, which means people can participate safely whether they are newly diagnosed or have been living with Parkinson’s for many years.

“Through this partnership, we want to give more teachers the tools they need to welcome people with Parkinson’s into their classes and to make sure no one feels that yoga ‘isn’t for them’.”

Understanding Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is a complex brain condition that worsens over time and has more than 40 symptoms, including tremor, pain and anxiety. There is currently no cure.

In the UK, someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s every 20 minutes. By 2050, the number of people living with the condition worldwide is expected to double to 25 million.

Parkinson’s UK is the leading European funder of Parkinson’s research and provides support at every stage of the condition.

How to take part and find support

More information about Parkinson’s UK, including support services, can be found on the Parkinson’s UK website or by calling their free, confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.

Details about the British Wheel of Yoga are available on their official website.

To book a place on the free online taster session, visit the event registration page.