“Alexander technique for Parkinson's disease” BASIC TRAINING

Please join our Worldwide AT for Parkinson’s team!

The Poise Project, a charity based in the United States, is committed to training instructors to support the growing worldwide population 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 since 2016, please visit our TPP Timelines pages:
https://www.thepoiseproject.org/2024-timeline

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

The first step is to complete a training about the complexities of Parkinson’s disease, and the daily challenges of people living with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. Our AT for Parkinson’s Basic Training offers practical information on best practices to more effectively teach this population in your private, in person practices.

The second step is to train in our specialized course curriculums developed by the Poise Project with research through the University of Idaho. These workshops and courses are specifically designed for people living with Parkinson's disease and their families. They are evidence-based, replicable, and effective.

If you are interested in taking the first step to improve 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 studying with these recordings, you will meet for an additional 4 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 area.

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?

  • Alexander technique is an evidence-based intervention for improving the quality of life and management of symptoms for people living with Parkinson’s?

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

TRAINING DETAILS

13 hours of recorded trainings

4 hours of live Zoom follow up with the instructor

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

COST* US$300 (Trainees: US$225)

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

We do not want cost to interfere with bringing AT 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.

  • If you would like us to help you reach out for donations through The Poise Project to help fund your training, please let us know.

Have you already taken one of The Poise Project's in depth one-or-more days of "AT for Parkinson's'" teacher trainings? If so, please let us know, and we will share a set of these updated training recordings and course materials with you for a $100 donation. We hope you will also be interested in joining one of our future course curriculum trainings.

REGISTRATION

1)    Please send an email with “AT for 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


PLEASE NOTE:


After you complete this foundational training, you can follow through by taking the Second Step and train in a specific evidence-based specialized AT group workshop curriculum for this population and their family care partners. The Poise Project will let you know when we have workshop curriculum trainings.

QUESTIONS?

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