It has been some time since I have really been able to do my Parkinson’s exercises due to my knee issues. Many of the exercises were such that my knee definitely hampered and/or prevented me being able to do them.
That is my excuse for that side of my addressing my Parkinson’s through exercise. I have recently taken the step of looking into Tai Chi though as I understand that it can be very beneficial for those of us with Parkinson’s for balance and general well-being. Once I have recovered sufficiently to go to Tai Chi I intend to go to a local class and see how I go with it. I have never been a group exercise person, so that could be interesting!
Now for the confession part.
As I have just outlined I have had a reason why I can’t do some/most of the exercises I was taught for my physical mobility. However, this does not preclude me in any way from doing vocal exercises. I don’t know why, but I struggle with doing vocal exercises. Don’t get me wrong, I can do them, but I have not in any way made them a priority. This is probably because I don’t feel there have been any significant changes in my voice at this time. I must ask my husband if he has noticed, just to check in whether I have not noticed and perhaps he did not like to say? It is perhaps one of those things where I may have my head in the sand and am not acknowledging that there is a need to do these exercises as I don’t like to think about losing my ability to talk effectively.
So, today – as I am home alone and have the time to do so – I have taken the step of getting back into vocal exercises. I found a website where you are taken through vocal exercises to assist with projection and maintaining voice. This is the thing that I should pay attention to ‘maintaining’ is the operative word that I should attend to. Just because I feel – and I may be wrong – that my voice is not affected, it does not mean that it isn’t or doesn’t need any attention.
I will try now to find some time each day to do some voice exercises assisted by the videos on the site I have put below. As the saying goes ‘Use it or lose it!’ If it is important to me to maintain my voice then I need to put in the work.
Here is the link.
Online SPEAK OUT! Home Practice (parkinsonvoiceproject.org)
Hope this is a helpful resource for you in preserving and enhancing your vocal abilities.
My journey with Parkinsons 