Wellness Wednesday: Social Engagement Series

Join us for a fun, interactive virtual workshop led by Second City faculty member Lisa Bany, where improvisational theater becomes a joyful tool for connection, creativity, and confidence.

Improv has emerged as a valuable complementary practice for people living with Parkinson’s, as it engages both motor and non-motor skills.  Through guided improv games and exercises, participants will be invited to connect, share, move, and laugh together. No prior improv or performance experience is needed—just a willingness to show up and participate at your own comfort level.

Speaker

Lisa Bany
Faculty, The Second City

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.

Due to the nature of our social engagement programs and to protect the privacy of participants, we will not be recording or archiving these programs. By not recording, it's our hope that the program provides a comfortable environment that encourages meaningful participation.

PD Health @ Home is presented by the Light of Day Foundation, whose generosity has made this programming possible.

Finding Presence When the Body Feels Uncertain

Living with Parkinson’s—or loving someone who does—can create a complicated relationship with the body. Sensations may feel unfamiliar, unpredictable, or even frustrating. In this session, we gently explore mindfulness as a way to come home to the body just as it is, without needing to fix or change anything.

Through simple, accessible practices focused on breath, sensation, and grounded awareness, participants will be invited to reconnect with the body as a place of information, steadiness, and belonging—rather than something to battle or control.

Speaker

Crista Ellis, E-RYT, B.Sc
Yoga & Meditation Teacher, Life Coach, Founder of Rising Rose Yoga
Senior Community Engagement Manager, Parkinson's Foundation

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.

PD Health @ Home is presented by the Light of Day Foundation, whose generosity has made this programming possible.

Fitness can be fun and time will fly by when you pair exercises with music! Join this live session for a moderate intensity full body strength and aerobic workout with balance, multitasking, and stretching to the beat of the music. This class can be accomplished standing or seated. Light weights and a sturdy chair are recommended for participation.

Instructor

Hannah Morris, NIFS Bold Moves Parkinson’s Instructor, ACSM CPT, APDA Parkinson’s Instructor Certified

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.

This Mindfulness Monday session invites participants to gently explore compassion as a source of strength, steadiness, and ease. Through simple grounding practices and guided reflection, we’ll create space to meet our experiences with patience, understanding, and shared humanity.

Together, we’ll explore how cultivating compassion can support those living with Parkinson’s in navigating daily challenges—helping to soften tension, ease self-judgment, and deepen connection with ourselves and others.

Speaker

Cary Goodman
Founder, Black Men’s Wholeness
Public Health & Faith Consultant, The Balm In Gilead, Inc.

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.

Wellness Wednesday: Expert Briefing Series

From pesticides to air quality, growing evidence points to environmental factors as significant contributors to Parkinson’s disease risk and progression. In this session, we will examine what is known—and what remains uncertain—about environmental exposures, genetic vulnerability, and protective factors. The discussion will highlight ongoing research efforts and opportunities for prevention and advocacy for cleaner, safer communities.  

The Foundation's Expert Briefing series is intended to offer firsthand access to the latest research and updates from experts in the field. Expert Briefing webinars will include more scientific terms and concepts. 

Speaker

Coming Soon!

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.

Wellness Wednesday: Expert Briefing Series

Scientists are learning that what happens in the gut may have an impact on the brain — including in Parkinson’s disease. In this session, we’ll explore how gut health and digestion are connected to Parkinson’s symptoms and overall well-being. You’ll hear about current research on the “gut–brain connection,” what it could mean for understanding Parkinson’s, and how caring for your gut may play a role in managing symptoms and improving quality of life. 

The Foundation's Expert Briefing series is intended to offer firsthand access to the latest research and updates from experts in the field. Expert Briefing webinars will include more scientific terms and concepts.

Speaker

Coming Soon!

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.

Wellness Wednesday: Expert Briefing Series

Now, more studies than ever are exploring disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that could truly change the future of Parkinson’s. While today’s treatments can help with symptoms, we cannot yet alter the disease progression. Researchers are working on DMTs that aim to slow, stop, or reverse the brain changes in Parkinson’s. This session will provide an overview of where the field stands—exploring breakthroughs in cell replacement therapies, disease-modifying trials, and ethical considerations. Attendees will learn how researchers are working toward interventions that could slow, stop, or reverse the disease process. 

The Foundation's Expert Briefing series is intended to offer firsthand access to the latest research and updates from experts in the field. Expert Briefing webinars will include more scientific terms and concepts. 

Speaker

Coming Soon!

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.

We want to thank this webinar's sponsor, Blue Rock Therapeutics, for supporting our mission. 

Each Mindfulness Monday invites participants to slow down, reflect, and declutter their minds. Through guided breathwork and visualization, you will be encouraged to step into the present by releasing thoughtful roadblocks and opening your mind to new opportunities and experiences that can assist in managing Parkinson’s disease.

Speaker

Danielle R. Carns, PsyD
Clinical Neuropsychologist & Assistant Professor
Department of Neurology, Emory University 

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.

Each month, Dr. Rush invites you to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with yourself and your Parkinson’s community through a guided mindfulness practice. Together, we’ll explore simple ways to ground the body, calm the mind, and cultivate compassion and clarity that you can carry into your week.

Whether you’re new to mindfulness or a returning participant, these sessions are designed to be inclusive, supportive, and accessible for everyone. Find a comfortable place to sit, settle in, and experience how mindfulness can bring steadiness and space, even in the midst of change.

A brief time for questions and reflections will follow each practice.

Speaker

Taylor Rush, PhD
Health Psychologist, Director of Behavioral Services and Interdisciplinary Programs, Center for Neurological Restoration, Cleveland Clinic

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.

When Parkinson’s changes how our bodies move and feel, it’s easy to become disconnected from them. This session explores body awareness as a path to healing and understanding, offering tools to observe sensations with compassion rather than judgment. We’ll close with a guided body awareness meditation designed to help you reconnect with yourself through presence.

Speaker

Nico Hase
Author & Meditation Teacher 

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.