My Healing Routine

 

Here is the simple truth: People recover from Parkinson's when they hold the belief that recovery is possible.  Those who believe their health can improve do improve. They take responsibility for their own health and well being and commit to a program that gives their body the support it needs to heal.

                                                                                    Robert Rogers, PhD.

           

Everyday I work on healing myself. The exercises are multi-dimensional and work on different aspects of myself. Some days I do more or less, and I have added and deleted exercises over time. Following is a description of my current “routine.”

            Hopefully up before 7:00 a.m., I stretch my legs and take some deep breaths. Then I get on my Gazelle machine and struggle along for 5 minutes, which seems like a long time because it is very hard for me. I will use it 3-5 times during the day. I go downstairs to see my family before they go off for work and school.

            I eat breakfast and take all my supplements.

            Settling in my usual comfortable chair, I consult the runes. I hold the bag of stones, shuffling through them with the other hand and think about the issues in my life at the moment. I choose one, read about it in The Book of Runes and record it in my journal. I also record what exercises I did the day before.

            Next, I usually read. What I read in the morning is always some kind of spiritual or self-help book. I read for 15 -30 minutes. Then I might do Jin Shin Jyutsu. I start by pressing my palms together and then hold each of the fingers of one hand with the other hand for about a minute each. I allow my thoughts to wander or notice sensations in my body.

            Then I meditate. I have a cushion I sit on facing a glass paperweight or flowers, if I have them. I am now part way through Andrew Weiss’ 10-week course on mindfulness meditation. I count breaths, notice the spaces between breaths, or recite silently:

            I breathe in. I relax my body.

            I breathe out. I smile.

            Dwelling in the present moment –

            I know this is a wonderful moment.

            When I feel it’s time, I follow the meditation with prayer. I usually say the Serenity prayer. I pray for my family, myself, perhaps someone in need, and I express gratitude for all the good things in my life.

Then I do Kinhin, a slow walking meditation around the edges of the rug. Each step corresponds to an in or an out breath. I try to be very aware of each step and all the coordinated body movements involved in walking. 

            Finally, I do Qi Gong exercises I learned from a book called Earth Qi Gong for Women.  After the warm up exercises, I repeat the movements of the two parts of the “Deer Walk” 8 times.

Time for a protein drink, another stint on the Gazelle then I can get on with the day such as taking a shower, getting dressed, cleaning up the kitchen and so forth.

            Then I may go to FSR Therapy, a Feldenkrais, yoga or tango class depending on the day.

            Before going to bed. I will meditate, pray and perhaps do Jin Shin Jyutsu. At the end of the day I see that most of the day has been devoted to MYSELF. It may sound self indulgent, but I intend in this way to heal myself of what is said to be an incurable disease. I have to really work at it, and not only put the time into it, but all the energy I can muster to do it with my whole being.