Alexander Technique and Other Somatic Practices working with Parkinson's Disease BASIC TRAINING

The Poise Project, a charity based in the United States, is committed to training somatic practitioners to support the growing worldwide epidemic of people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families.

We encourage you to take an in-depth training in this complex disease, and then we will help you find ways to connect to our growing international network of neurologists, allied health professionals, and community partners around the world.

The Poise Project has been growing a worldwide project to bring individual and group adapted-Alexander classes to people living with Parkinson’s disease and their family care partners around the globe.

To learn more about The Poise Project and all of our international activities from 2016-2025, please visit our TPP Timelines pages:
https://www.thepoiseproject.org/2025-timeline

How can you improve the quality of life of people living with Parkinson’s disease?

Take our training to be ready to address the complexities of Parkinson’s disease, and the daily challenges of people living with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. Our Somatics for Parkinson’s Basic Training offers practical information on best practices to more effectively teach this population in your private, in person practices.

If you are interested in improving the quality of life for people living with this challenging disease, The Poise Project has a Basic Training in Parkinson’s via four recordings from one of our past group online trainings. There are a total of 13 hours of recorded training and you can chose from groups that were taught:

In English

In Spanish

In French


After beginning by using these recordings, you will follow up your training by meeting for an additional 3 hours with the instructor live via Zoom so that all participants have the opportunity to share their own perspectives and insights, have a chance to ask the instructor any questions after having absorbed the training information, and learn more about how to support people living with Parkinson’s and their families in your community.

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 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 other multidisciplinary programs for people living with Parkinson’s that can them help prevent the progression of this disabling disease?

  • More health professionals need training in Parkinson’s disease?

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 bring somatic practices to this population

  • Specific difficulties and challenges unique to working with 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.

Resources include:

  • Materials on the stages, causes, and symptoms of Parkinson’s

  • Video examples of symptoms of Parkinson's disease

  • Published research supporting Alexander technique (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 specifically

  • 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 gather feedback from your participants after a course of lessons to support the effectiveness of your trainings

TRAINING DETAILS

13 hours of recorded trainings

3 hours of live Zoom follow up with the instructor

Access to a folder of course materials and supportive content and outreach materials

COST* US$350 (Somatic Trainees currently in a training program: US$275)

*All fees are used to fund and sustain the work of The Poise Project, and to cover our travel and fee expenses to advocate for AT at international conferences.

We do not want cost to interfere with bringing somatic professionals onto this project:

  • If you live in a low-income or high-inflation country, please contact us to work out an equitable fee.

  • If you need an installment payment plan, please contact us for information.

REGISTRATION

1)    Please send an email with “Parkinson’s Basic Training Recordings” in the subject line, and note whether you would like English, Spanish, or French recordings, or a combination, to:

info@thepoiseproject.org

2)    Please make your payment to:

·      Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/thepoiseproject

QUESTIONS?

Monika Gross                       
monika.gross@thepoiseproject.org
+1 828-254-3102 WhatsApp or direct

TESTIMONIALS

‘The 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 I 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 or other somatic practitioner, 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 about working with the growing population of people affected by Parkinson’s disease.’

—Raewyn Khosla, Ottawa Canda

 

‘I highly recommend taking the 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. It is a great bonus to know more about the disease. Thank you, Monika!’

—Cathy Sommer, Edinburg, Scotland UK