Most of us people with Parkinson’s know that exercise is essential to living well with PD. We may not realize how important it is to exercise our brain as well. Yet, it is just as vital to challenge our brain as we do our bodies. Improvisation is a fun way to check this box. Improv might not be what you think it is. It isn’t stand-up comedy, and it really isn’t scary. It is an unplanned collaborative response to others using games and play to illicit reactions. Anyone can do it and it seems to improve quality of life. My guests, Richard Cochrane and Susan Scarlett, will fill you in on how improv can and has helped People with Parkinson’s (and others) become stronger, more capable, more positive, and more self-confident person. Listen on to learn from a PhD candidate studying the effects of improv on quality of life for People with Parkinson’s and from one of his improv/PD students. Thank you to my sponsor, Boston Scientific, the maker of Vercise Genus, a Deep Brain Stimulation or DBS system. To learn more about Parkinson’s treatment options, please visit DBSandMe.com.
046 Improv for the Soul and Brain
Most of us people with Parkinson’s know that exercise is essential to living well with PD. We may not realize how important it is to exercise our brain as well. Yet, it is just as vital to challenge our brain as we do our bodies. Improvisation is a fun way to check this box. Improv might not be what you think it is. It isn’t stand-up comedy, and it really isn’t scary. It is an unplanned collaborative response to others using games and play to illicit reactions. Anyone can do it and it seems to improve quality of life. My guests, Richard Cochrane and Susan Scarlett, will fill you in on how improv can and has helped People with Parkinson’s (and others) become stronger, more capable, more positive, and more self-confident person. Listen on to learn from a PhD candidate studying the effects of improv on quality of life for People with Parkinson’s and from one of his improv/PD students. Thank you to my sponsor, Boston Scientific, the maker of Vercise Genus, a Deep Brain Stimulation or DBS system. To learn more about Parkinson’s treatment options, please visit DBSandMe.com.
This is fantastic and I can see where improv would help. In my former life I was a public speaker and I could speak extemporaneously on almost any topic. Words flowed from my mouth and I was never at a loss for what to say.
Now, I find that I have to write everything down and really prepare for what I am going to say and practice it.
I can see where an inmprov class would be very helpful.
I can see where an inprov class would be extremely helpful. In my former life was a public speaker and could speak extemporaneously on almost any topic. Words just flowed from my mouth.
Since being diagnosed with PD (21 years ago), this is not the case. I now have to wrtie everything down and practice it to get the correct intonation, etc.