69: What to Consider (and What to Avoid) When Teaching Exercise Classes to Individuals with More Cognitive and/or Physical Challenges

What’s the best way to organize your classes so everyone gets the right level of challenge?  We know that intensity matters but so does safety and a feeling of success.  For individuals with Parkinson’s over time their presentations can vary which can make it more challenging to design group classes for all levels of abilities.  

Must create a system or rules for who is appropriate for which type of class - cognitive vs physical challenges, safety.  We share our top tips for successful classes working with individuals with more physical and cognitive challenges, what to consider, and what to avoid.

Consider having: 

• Smaller groups (4-8 people)
• Don’t create stations that require a lot of transitioning in between - keep things in one main area
• Have help if able - caregivers, volunteers, students, etc
• Allow clients to collaborate together to create fun and community in class
• Use props to make activities bigger, allow more external focus, and make it more obvious for what is needed from participants

Email Claire if you are interested in learning and talking more about slip and trip training at [email protected] 

Anti-racist action: Working with our coach helps us to talk through and process things.  We see how much we have to live in the gray areas because not everything is good or bad.  Sometimes we can still support our morals and ethics without boycotting everything or going to the extremes.