October 2019
Many have been asking how I am going with my gymnastics. It is not easy but I am still at it and I am enjoying trying new things. Thanks to everyone involved in the video.
Tag: #Handstandforparkinsonsdisease
No routine like at home
It’s been amazing to be here in Australia but the hardest thing has been not having my regular schedule of gymnastics classes three times a week for 2 hours each. I do gymnastics here and the people are lovely but it’s a very different approach to what I’m used to as it is mainly x-gymnasts who are advanced. It’s not quite the same. That said I’ve been getting lots of helpful advice from pilates and physiotherapist about how to improve different things that are missing from my workouts in Peru. So while I am working out, it lacks intensity because I do it at home or when travelling. I’m losing strength and gaining weight from all the good Aussie food. This next few weeks are full of physiotherapy visits so this should help. It is now less than a month until we are home and I’ll be back at it.
Here is me working on my handstand, actually trying to get warm enough to get in the water. It looks warm but it is winter here and it was freezing.
Projects and persistence in gymnastics
To go along with the video I have renamed the blog “Handstand for Parkinson’s” and the website is www.handstandforparkinsons.com. I hope this won’t cause too much confusion.
The other news is that I am preparing a Poster “Living with Parkinson’s in Peru”. So I am super busy trying to interview people with the disease and write up their stories and creating charts. I have never done something like this and with the time limit so close (June). I am a bit overwhelmed and have ideas that I am struggling to put into action.
Thanks everyone for your votes and support with the video “Handstanding for Parkinson’s Disease”. I have been so blessed by comments and with votes. The winner isn’t announced until June, but voting has finished.
We’re preparing for our 3 month visit to Australia late May to August which is exciting too.
The fun news is that I am working on a follow-up video called “Before and After” about how my coordination, movement balance and strength improved by doing gymnastics to combat Parkinson’s. It is half done so watch this space. I am relatively new to video editing so it is taking me time to learn but I’m advancing little by little.
Also I am back at the gym training pretty hard but like pride before the fall my handstand has gone backwards. Firstly my coach prefers that I don’t use a wall for support and secondly I am still frightened and lack consistency in my style. I need to keep practicing! Everyone has these valleys or plateaus but I am working hard. My next video will include some new tricks I am working on… of course I’m not looking like a pro but I’m moving forward nonetheless. April marks the first anniversary of my time in the gym.
Video: Handstanding for Parkinson’s Disease!
I took a challenge to learn to handstand. It was lot of hard work to build up the muscles and prepare my body. I have made a short documentary about the process and the obstacles I faced. Please watch for the full story.
I am raising funds to attend the World Parkinson’s Congress in Japan in June 2019 (funds will cover my flights/ accommodation/ registration) and in addition I am funding an education project for Parkinson’s sufferers in Peru. I’d like to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease and the importance of exercise in preventing disease progression in Peru. Going to the Congress will help resource me for this purpose and on a personal level too. Please read my blog post Peru and Parkinson’s Disease for more information. It is a huge need and it breaks my heart to see people suffer unnecessarily.
I challenge you to Handstand for Parkinson’s Disease too.
1. Do a Handstand for Parkinson’s Disease (Read below first!)
2. Post a Picture/ Video to facebook #handstandforparkinsonsdisease
3. Make a donation
https://www.gofundme.com/hand-stand-for-parkinson-disease
4. Nominate 2 Friends to “Handstand for Parkinson’s Disease”
5. The challenge continues….
Handstanding:
Please don’t try this if you don’t know how. Be responsible and if you want to learn, join an adult gymnastics class like I did. You would have until 1st of June to add your photo.
I challenge you to make a donation to the cause on this page. Small or Large – as your heart leads you.
Thank-you for donating.
Videos
| Christine Jeyachandran: 9 years ago at age 37, Christine was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in Peru where she lived until recently. It started with a slight tremble, weak fingers and led to left foot dragging and difficulty walking without medication. Gymnastics has changed her life completely and empowered her physically and mentally. Her video Handstand for Parkinson’s was a finalist at the World Parkinson Congress. |  Finalist for video Competition 5100+ views |
| She regained range of movement, balance, flexibility, coordination, and she’s stronger than ever. And her video Before and After shows a huge contrast in how it has changed the way she moves. |  |
| In April 2020, Christine edited a video: What are the benefits of exercise?. This shows the amazing stories of 13 people with Parkinson’s from around the World who swear by and implore people with Parkinson’s to exercise with determination and intensity, an apt message during COVID19. Parkinson’s disease never takes a day off. |  |
| Christine herself had to “overcome apathy, doubts, fatigue, and fear” in training gymnastics so she wanted to help others understand the benefits went beyond her story and are worth the effort. This video comes with a sequel discussing “What keeps you motivated” as we know motivation is a big challenge for those with Parkinson’s too! This project was featured in Parkinson’s Life, online magazine. |  |
| The video – Would you sell your house to save your mother? Has been had amazing feedback (see poster below) and exposure and was a top 5 in a popular vote for the Focus on Ability Video Competition last year. It has over 44 amazing comments just on their site and many more through social media. It challenges the world to see the needs within the Parkinson’s Latino community. Finalist in Focus on Ability Film Festival |
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I have many videos on my youtube channel. Please SUBSCRIBE to my youtube
I’m am amateur video maker but I’m learning so much and I do it to educate people about Parkinson’s most of all so forgive the small errors you might see.
¿Cuáles son los beneficios del ejercicio? Los secretos de
Parkinson para vivir con éxito. Video 1
What keeps you motivated? Parkinson’s secrets to living
successfully! Video II of a II part series
What are the Benefits of Exercise? Parkinson’s secrets to living successfully. Video I of II
La perseverancia Ejercicios y Parkinson.
Antes y Después – Christine usaba gimnasia artística para combatir el Parkinson
Homenastics – Hogar-nasia
¿Que es la enfermedad de Parkinsons?
Walk Normally – Christine’s Journey with Parkinson’s #uniteforparkinsons
Made for World Parkinson’s day in April 2018.
One Voice. One Day. This is Christine’s . #Uniteforparkinsons short version edited by World Parkinson’s Day team.
People all around the world talk about their Parkinson’s #Uniteforparkinson’s official video edited by World Parkinson’s Day team. Parts of my video appear in it.
We are hoping to make more videos in the future and especially in Spanish. If you look you can find Spanish subtitles for the Walk Normally video.
Esperamos hacer más videos en el futuro y especialmente en español. Si busca, puedes encontrar subtítulos en español para el video Walk Normally.