Wellness weekend 2024
Presented in partnership with LA County Department of Mental Health
Movement, mental health & wellness resources, guest speakers, food vendors & more!
Dancing Through Parkinson’s is thrilled to be participating in Mental Health Awareness month, May 2024. In partnership with Crenshaw Yoga & Dance, we are able to bring you two packed days of classes, resources, and community! Get to know Dancing Through Parkinson’s and the mental health and wellness resources that are available to you!
Wellness Weekend 2024: Two enriching days of free movement classes, mental health and wellness resources, guest speakers, food vendors & more! Experience diverse classes led by dance artists, yoga and tai chi practitioners and theatre professionals. We welcome a variety of neuro-focused brain health & exercise professionals and Parkinson’s organizations to share resources with you.
Weekend Schedule:
Friday, May 17th: OPEN HOUSE 1-5pm
1:30-2:15pm Dancing Through Parkinson’s Sample Class
RSVP!
RSVP for this free in-person class offering to see what Dancing Through Parkinson’s is all about! Led by our fabulous Teaching Artists Rachel Whiting and Chavia Blankenship, this sample class is suitable & open to all ages and all levels. Come experience the benefits of movement first hand! Geared toward those with neurological conditions and/or mobility challenges, DTP offers a safe space to practice functional movement, balance, and coordination. Care partners, friends and family highly encouraged to dance with us!
2:30p-3:15pm Improv Workshop: The Jam for Joy with Dr. Robert Cochrane CEO Yes, And…eXercise!
RSVP!
RSVP for this free in-person class offering: The Jam for Joy led by Dr. Robert Cochrane. This workshop is for people with PD, care partners and the medical/wellness staff who serve our community. It’s an hour of improvisational fun, connection and discovery in a safe/brave space where we show our full selves, have each other’s backs at all times, and know there are no wrong answers. This is play-based, rather than performance based. No one is ever put on the spot, stage or anywhere else they don’t want to be. While we tend to laugh a lot, there are no jokes in what we do. The laughter we create is cultivated organically through our connections. Our goal is to make each other look and feel great through “yes, and”. Absolutely no experience is required – come as you are!
3:30p-4:15pm Your Brain on Exercise with Guest Speaker: Ryan Glatt, Pacific Neuroscience Institute
RSVP!
RSVP for this free talk discussing the brain benefits of exercise as it relates to healthy brain and body aging. While it is becoming more understood that exercise can benefit the brain, this presentation will review all the unique ways in which it can do so, and how to create a brain-healthy exercise program by understanding its main components. Ryan Glatt joins us from the Pacific Neuroscience Institute where he is a Brain Health Coach and Director of the FitBrainSM Program.
Teaching Artists Rosa Navarrete and Chavia Blankenship
Saturday, May 18th: MENTAL HEALTH EXPO 12-5pm
Studio B
12-1pm Welcome!
1-2pm Chair Yoga with Michelle Chua
RSVP!
RSVP for this free in-person class to dive into mindful presence, skillful breath-work and clear physical alignment in asanas for different bodies and experience levels. Led by Michelle Chua, this sample class is suitable & open to all ages and all levels. Come experience the benefits of movement first hand! Care partners, friends and family highly encouraged to dance with us!
2:30-3:30pm Intro to Tai Chi with Margaret Olmsted
RSVP for this free in-person class to dive into Tai Chi and Qigong! Tai Chi and Qigong consist of slow relaxed movements and positions based on specific principles. It is often practiced for stress relief and health benefits.
In this class we will work with these principles and how they can be used in everyday life for improving balance, strengthening the legs, generating energy and increasing peace of mind. Can be done seated or standing. This introductory class will leave you feelings refreshed, relaxed and revitalized. Led by Margaret Olmsted, this sample class is suitable & open to all ages and all levels
Dr. Robert Cochrane teaching YAX!
Studio C
12p-5pm Mental Health & Wellness Expo
1-2pm Dancing Through Parkinson’s Sample Class
RSVP!
RSVP for this free in-person class offering to see what Dancing Through Parkinson’s is all about! Led by our fabulous Teaching Artists Rachel Whiting and Jessica Monea Evans, this sample class is suitable & open to all ages and all levels. Come experience the benefits of movement first hand! Geared toward those with neurological conditions and/or mobility challenges, DTP offers a safe space to practice functional movement, balance, and coordination. Care partners, friends and family highly encouraged to dance with us!
2:30p-3:30pm Storytelling Workshop: Day One with Dr. Robert Cochrane
RSVP for this free in-person class offering: Day One led by Dr. Robert Cochrane. In this sample class we’ll go over the basics of this novel, evidence-based storytelling program based on Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. We will play games and engage in narrative-based exercises that encourage creativity. The program is designed to help people in the PD community explore, discover and share their stories with others. Absolutely no experience is required – come as you are!
3:45-4:30pm Parkinson’s and The Benefits of Exercise with Guest Speaker: Corwin Patis | PT, DPT, OCS | Pacific Neuroscience Institute
RSVP!
RSVP for this free in-person talk covering the benefits of exercise for brain health and Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Corwin Patis will give a brief overview of the physiological benefits of exercise on the brain followed by a discussion about exercise recommended and the effects they have on balance, physical function, and falls. Finally, a brief overview of rehabilitation and the differences between therapy and exercise.
4:45-5pm Dancing Through Parkinson’s Film Screening
Mental Health & Wellness Expo featuring…
Parkinson’s Resource Org (PRO)
Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles (PCLA)
Parkinson’s Foundation
American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA)
Dr. Raziel Rizzo, PT, DPT | Evolution Physical Therapy
Michelle Chua | Root 2 Rise Yoga
Hosted at Crenshaw Yoga & Dance
5426 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90043
Metered parking + free neighborhood parking lot, cross street W 54th.
Shuttle & Accessibility Information
We will have free shuttle pick up locations at the Santa Monica YMCA and East Valley YMCA .
Shuttle service is first come first serve! Please sign up to reserve your seat HERE.
If you are driving, we recommend care partners drop off participants and then park. Surrounding parking lots are in a 2-3 block radius. We will have staff available to help lead participants into the event.
Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
Shuttle Schedule
Santa Monica YMCA
1332 6th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Note: SM YMCA Parking lot closes 9pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday.
May 17th
Pick Up Point A. Santa Monica YMCA
12:15pm – Pick Up from SM YMCA (SM YMCA to CY&D)
2:15pm– Pick Up from SM YMCA (SM YMCA to CY&D)
4:45pm – Return to SM YMCA (CY&D to SM YMCA)
Pick Up Point B. East Valley YMCA
12:15pm – Pick Up from East Valley YMCA (East Valley YMCA to CY&D)
2:15pm– Pick Up from East Valley (East Valley YMCA to CY&D)
4:45pm – Return to East Valley (CY&D to East Valley)
East Valley YMCA
5142 Tujunga Ave
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Note: Plenty of street parking around YMCA.
May 18th
Pick Up Point A. Santa Monica YMCA
11:15am – Pick Up from SM YMCA (SM YMCA to CY&D)
1:15pm – Pick Up from SM YMCA (SM YMCA to CY&D)
2:30pm – Return to SM YMCA (CY&D to SM YMCA)
5:00pm – Return to SM YMCA (CY&D to SM YMCA)
Pick Up Point B. East Valley YMCA
11:15am – Pick Up from East Valley (East Valley to CY&D)
1:15pm – Pick Up from East Valley (East Valley to CY&D)
2:30pm – Return to East Valley (CY&D to East Valley)
5:00pm – Return to East Valley (CY&D to East Valley)
Food Vendors:
Information about catering/food vendors available soon!
Questions? Email Cat! [email protected]
