BASIC TRAINING (Online via Zoom):
“Alexander technique for Parkinson's disease”
Teacher & Trainee Training via Zoom
Join the international AT for Parkinson’s team!
The Poise Project is working to train AT teachers & trainees to meet the demand we are creating for new jobs to work with people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families as integral members of interdisciplinary care teams.
The Poise Project, a charity based in the United States, has been growing an international grassroots project to bring individual and group Alexander classes to people living with Parkinson’s disease and their family care partners around the globe.
To learn more about The Poise Project, visit our 2022 end-of-year report on all our activities:
https://www.thepoiseproject.org/news/2023-07-30/2022end-of-year
And links to all our activity Timelines from 2016-2023:
https://www.thepoiseproject.org/2023-timeline
We are offering in depth training for AT teachers in this complex disease, and then connecting them to our growing international network of neurologists, allied health professionals, and community partners.
How can Alexander teachers best help people affected by this disease at different stages of its progression? Trainees are included in all trainings to prepare them to work with this population once they are certified as AT teachers.
Did you know that:
§ Parkinson's disease is the 2nd most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide after Alzheimer’s disease?
§ Parkinson’s is now considered to be the most complex human disease?
§ 8,500,000 people are currently living with Parkinson’s disease worldwide?
§ Parkinson’s is now considered to be growing at epidemic rates?
§ Parkinson’s has no cure?
§ Parkinson’s disease is severely disabling in many parts of the world because of late diagnosis and poor treatment?
§ Many people living with Parkinson’s lack trustworthy self management, lifestyle, and disease education due to false information and “cure” scams, social stigmas?
§ Many people living with Parkinson’s have much higher risks of social isolation, inactivity, and depression that can lead to more rapid disease advancement?
§ Many countries don’t have exercise and multidisciplinary programs for people living with Parkinson’s disease that can them help prevent the progression of this disabling disease?
§ More health professionals need training in Parkinson’s disease?
§ Alexander technique is an evidence-based intervention for improving the quality of life and management of symptoms for people living with Parkinson’s?
How can AT Teachers and Trainees Join The Poise Project’s International Global Project to improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s?
The first step for AT teachers and trainees is to be educated about the daily challenges of people living with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, and practical and effective suggestions to teach this population in your private, in person practices.
The second step for Alexander Techniques teachers is to train in an evidence-based specialized curriculum developed by the Poise Project that is specifically targeted to people living with Parkinson's disease and their families and is evidence-based, replicable and effective.
When are “AT for Parkinson’s” trainings being offered?
If you are interested in taking the first step to bring the AT principles to improve the quality of life for people living with this challenging disease by gaining in depth information for your private practices, The Poise Project is offering a foundational 12 hour online training via Zoom in English on two Saturdays & Sundays in September 2023.
WEDNESDAY TRAININGS IN SEPTEMBER:
Wednesdays 6, 13, 20 & 27 September
***Only one place left
The Wednesday Training Course is now full.
There are still places left in the Weekend Training Course:
Saturdays & Sundays
9 & 10, 16 & 17 September
All Trainings will be at this time:
17h30-20h30 GMT+3 in Finland
16h30-19h30 GMT+2 in Netherlands
15h30-18h30 GMT+1 in UK & Ireland
10h30-13h30 Eastern Daylight Time (GMT-4)
7h30-10h30 Pacific Daylight Time (GMT-7)
To find the time in your time zone: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
PLEASE NOTE: All interactive training sessions will be recorded, so if for any reason you miss some or all of a session, you will be able to access the recording.
Additional Option:
If the training times don't fit your schedule, you can register for the course and view the recordings from the current training that will be shared each week. After viewing the recordings, an additional Zoom meeting would be arranged so that participants would have the opportunity to share their own perspective and insights, and also have a chance to ask the instructor any questions they might have after having absorbed the training information.
Training includes:
· The definition of Parkinson’s disease and other related Parkinsonisms
· Stages of progression of Parkinson’s disease
· Types of Parkinson’s diagnoses
· Causes of Parkinson’s
· Current medications and treatments for Parkinson’s, and how they impact how you teach AT to this population
· Specific difficulties and challenges unique to teaching AT to this population, and how to be better prepared for them in order to be effective
· Understanding the many symptoms of Parkinson’s, both motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms, with video examples, and with experiential options
· Some best practices that will help you address specific symptoms in AT sessions
Resources include:
· Materials on the stages, causes, and symptoms of Parkinson’s
· Video examples of symptoms of Parkinson's disease
· Video examples from AT for Parkinson’s classes
· Published research supporting AT for Parkinson’s, including the research done by The Poise Project
· Research handouts
· AT for Parkinson’s materials to use as handouts
· Guidelines for speaking to medical and allied health professionals about AT
· Intake forms with questions you might ask prior to your client’s first session to understand what stage they are in and what symptoms they have
· Sample evaluation forms to get feedback from your participants after a course of lessons to support the effectiveness of your trainings
TRAINING DETAILS
12 hours of live training (3 hours per day)
Limited to 12 participants per course
Taught in English (with Finnish translation as needed)
COST* US$320 (Trainees: US$200)
*All fees are used to fund and sustain the work of The Poise Project, cover our travel expenses to the Alzheimer Europe conference in Helsinki from 16-18 October 2023, the costs for an exhibit booth there to promote Alexander technique, and to continue to offer follow up support for teachers.
If you need an installment payment plan, please contact us for information.
If you live in a low-income or high-inflation country, please contact us to work out an equitable fee.
REGISTRATION
1) Please send an email with “Weekend AT for Parkinson’s Training” in the subject line to: info@thepoiseproject.org
2) Please make your payment to confirm your place:
· Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/thepoiseproject
PLEASE NOTE:
After you complete this foundational training, you can take the second step and train in a specific evidence-based specialized AT group curriculum for this population and their family care partners. The Poise Project is organizing in person curriculum trainings in
Helsinki: 11-15 October, 2023:
For information and to register:
https://www.thepoiseproject.org/events/2023/10/finlandtraining
South America and USA: Dates TBA in 2024
Have you already participated in one of The Poise Project's "AT for Parkinson's'" teacher trainings? If so, please let us know, and we will share a set of these updated training recordings with you, and we hope you will be interested in joining one of our future evidence-based replicable course curriculum trainings.
QUESTIONS?
Monika Gross
monika.gross@thepoiseproject.org
+1 828-254-3102 WhatsApp or direct
Or in Finland:
Artur Erjala
vapauttaolemiseen@gmail.com
+358 44 290 4228 WhatsApp or direct
TESTIMONIALS
‘The Alexander technique training for Parkinson’s was not just informative, but truly inspirational - a very worthwhile experience. I learned so much about all aspects of Parkinson's disease and how beautifully Alexander technique can aid in improving the quality of life of those affected by this disease. The Zoom format of this class lends well to the curriculum while also providing plenty of time for personal interactions, questions, and valuable dialogue. I left the course feeling inspired: having gained not only new information about this particular application but a renewed appreciation for being able to teach Alexander technique to my community. I fully recommend this training to any Alexander technique teacher, even if you are not currently teaching students living with Parkinson's disease. ‘
—Mary Beth Coolidge, Ohio USA
'I recently completed The Poise Project's first step training which taught me about the daily challenges of people living with this extremely complicated disease. It also gave me background into the varied symptoms and ways Parkinson's disease manifests. Monika's deep knowledge, experience and compassion were evident at all times. Her teaching was clear and comprehensive and I can recommend this course as a first step into educating ourselves as Alexander teachers about working with the growing population of people affected by Parkinson’s disease.’
—Raewyn Khosla, Ottawa Canda
‘I highly recommend taking the AT for Parkinson's training with The Poise Project. It has been highly valuable learning opportunity - the way it was organized and conducted opened whole new world of better understanding - both detailed knowledge and heightened empathy around the topic. I am also excited to dive into all of the bonus materials shared with us. People suffering from Parkinson’s disease are a grateful and motivated community and we can help them tremendously with Alexander technique. It is a great bonus to know more about the disease. Thank you, Monika!’
—Cathy Sommer, Edinburg, Scotland UK